The Fort — Caherass

In pasture on a slight E-facing slope near the summit of a low ridge, with moderate to good views in all directions. The site is located 560m NE of the River Maigue and the townland boundary with Dunnaman. A fish pond and enclosure (LI021-086001/002-) lies 120m to E. The site is not depicted on OSi maps. The 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map illustrates a pocket of mixed coniferous and deciduous demesne landscape woodland at the site. The woodland on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map is annotated with ‘The Fort’. The N and W boundary of this woodland forms the townland boundary with Castleroberts. Inspected by the ASI in 2000 when it was described as a raised circular-shaped area (int. diam. 53m N-S; 54m E-W) defined by an earth and stone bank (Wth 9m; int. D 0.4m; ext. D 1m), intervening wide fosse (base Wth 1.4m; overall Wth 9.8; D 0.6m) and external earth and stone bank (Wth 8.7m; int. D 0.6m; ext. H 0.5m). The original entrance is located through the internal bank (Wth 10m) and external bank (Wth 14m) at E with a slight causeway in the fosse. The circuit of the internal bank is almost complete with a gap in the SE. The interior gently undulates, slopes slightly E and is in pasture. A stone field boundary is located on the W and N side along the external edge of the external bank, where the bank has been partially eroded. The banks and fosse are overgrown with trees visible on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018 and 14/02/2020. See attached sketch plan surveyed and drawn by the ASI and Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan Date of upload: 13 August 2020