Enclosure in Steelaun

In pasture, located at the edge of a terrace where ground falls away gradually to SE, giving good views over Rathfran Bay. To W-NW the terrace is bordered by an expanse of wet ground beyond which the ground rises steeply to a ridge that dominates the skyline. This enclosure is not shown on the 1836 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It is evident as a circular area (22.4m E-W; 23m N-S) defined by a degraded, sod-covered, stone bank (Wth 1.6m at W, 2.3m at N; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 0.25m). The stone bank is incorporated at S-SW into a later, now defunct, ESE-WNW field wall. The remains of a parallel field wall cuts through the N side of the enclosure. In parts, particularly at S, field clearance stones are heaped on the stone bank. The uneven surface of the interior incorporates some field clearance stone. In the centre there is an irregular hollow (diam. c. 5-7m), defined on the E side by a low sod-covered stone bank; this appears to be the result of disturbance. A rath (MA015-023----) is located c. 200m downslope to ESE, and several fulachtai fia/burnt mounds (MA015-084001- to MA015-084004-) are located in the wet ground c. 100m to SW. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 13 December 2018