Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Shanaghy (gallen By.)

In average pasture, located on a N–S ridge, utilising the steep fall of ground to W. There is s stream at the base of the slope 120m to W; the townland boundary coincides with the course of the stream. This rath is not shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map; a hachured outline is shown on the 1931 edition. Roughly circular area (33m E–W) defined by an earthen bank, incorporating some stone. At N–ESE the bank (Wth 3.5–4m; int. H 0.5-0.7m; ext. H 1.4m) is well defined, and has a broad external slump. It becomes increasingly low and degraded SE–SSW, and at W is reduced to a scarp (H 1.2m) with a slight stony internal lip (Wth 2m). The external slope of the rath merges with the natural ridge slope at SW-W. Stone tumble is visible on the slope in parts. The interior slopes down from the centre to NE–E. Lintelled openings into a souterrain (MA071-030001-) are evident in the centre of the interior and in the bank at W. A field wall on an ENE–WSW axis crosses the S half of the interior. An old trackway skirts the W side of the rath, slightly truncating the base of the bank at NNW. The ridge slope immediately to W of the rath has been partly quarried away. The rath is generally rather dilapidated in appearance, with the interior largely obscured by blackthorn scrub. The NE quadrant remains grassy and relatively of overgrowth. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 27 August 2021