Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Esker (gallen By., Kilconduff Par.)

In pasture, located on top of an esker which provides panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including such distant landmarks as the Ox Mountains, Nephin and Croagh Patrick. The rath is sited on an E−W stretch of the esker, 20m W of the point where the esker rises to a rounded peak and turns to N. The S-facing slope of the esker drops steeply from directly beneath the rath to an expanse of lowlying, damp pasture where another rath (MA062-038----) is located 200m to S; at N the slope falls more gradual to the edge of a flat expanse of bog stretching for over a kilometre N-wards to the banks of the River Moy. The rath consist of a low but clearly defined earthen platform (25m N−S; 33m E−W) defined by a scarp. It straddles the full N−S width of the esker so that the scarp coincides with the natural break of slope of the ridge on the N and S sides. The scarp is higher and most substantial at NW−NE (H 1.4m, Wth slope 3m), where it has been built up to create a level interior. Elsewhere the scarp is lower (H 0.5m), and a particularly low section at W may indicate an original entrance. The interior is relatively flat, but with a slight slope down evident in the N third, reflecting the natural slope of the esker. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 16 November 2016