Cross Fort — Carrowreagh (tirawley By.)

In rolling average pasture, located at the break of slope at the top of a natural NE-facing scarp, with excellent views in all directions. It is located close to the NE boundary of the townland. This rath is named ‘Cross Fort’ on the 1838 and 1929 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a raised, broadly oval area (31m N–S; 35m E–W) defined by a substantial bank of earth and stone, and enclosed by a fosse with an external bank. The inner bank (Wth 4.5m; int. H 0.4m at SW, 0.1m at NE; ext. H 1.7m at SW, 2m at NE) is low internally and more or less reduced to a scrap at N–NE, but it has a pronounced external slope. Stones protruding from the external face of the bank at N–NE appear be remnants of a stone facing. The fosse (Wth 3-3.3m) is clearly defined, except at NE–E where the external bank is absent and the fosse is reduced to a slight terrace from which the ground falls steeply in a natural slope. The external bank (Wth 3.7m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.6m, at SW) is incorporated into later field banks at SSW–NNW, which respect the curve of the enclosure. The original entrance may be at the SE, where there is a gap (Wth 2.4m) in the inner bank with a corresponding break (Wth 4.4m) in the external bank. A low line of sod covered stones extends across the gap in the inner bank. The centre of the interior appears to be slightly raised. The interior surface is rather uneven. A number of low scarps or banks subdivide the NE quadrant, but appear to be relatively late in date. There is a circular depression (diam. 8m; D 0.6m), possibly the result of relatively recent disturbance, in the NW quadrant. Grass cover, with moderate hawthorn, gorse and brambles on the inner bank. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 2 May 2019