Mount Ready — Ballysakeery

In average pasture, located beside the SW boundary of the townland, prominently sited on top of a knoll or rise, which is named Mount Ready on the 1838 and 1829 OS 6-inch maps. The knoll part of a NW–SE ridge, providing good views over the surrounding sharply undulating terrain, and E to the estuary of the River Moy. Raised oval area (c. 27m NW–SE; c. 20m NE–SW) defined by an earthen bank, and enclosed at SW–N by a fosse and external bank. The natural slope (overall H c. 5m) of the knoll, particularly steep on the E side, is used to enhance the enclosing elements. The inner bank (Wth 4.3m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 3.35m, at NW) retains a low internal lip at W–NW, but elsewhere is largely reduced to a scarp (ext. H 3.5-4m, at SW). The fosse (Wth 2.7m) and external bank (Wth c. 4m; int. H c. 0.8m; ext. H c. 1.5m) are well defined around the W half of the circuit, but are not evident on the E half where the knoll slope is steepest and shows signs of relatively recent disturbance. The entrance gap (Wth 4m) at the SE opens onto a shallow slump across the fosse defined on the E side by a low bank. The centre of the interior is level with a gentle slope down at its outer edges at W and E towards the enclosing scarp. In the SW quadrant, close to the entrance, there is a roughly circular hollow (diam. c. 7.5m; D 0.5m) which appears to be the result of relatively recent disturbance. At NNW the external slope of the outer bank is incorporated onto the line of a later field fence, and at S a semi-circular area (c. 8m NW–SE; c. 4m NE–SW) has been quarried away immediately outside the external bank. There is dense overgrowth of blackthorn, brambles and gorse on the W half of the rath perimeter. Another rath (MA022-073) is located 100m to NW. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 3 May 2019