Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Carrownaculla

In pasture, located on a rise. Ground falls gradually to E towards a flat expanse of bog. There is a stream 270m to N. Slightly raised circular area (36.5m N−S; 36m E−W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 4m; int. H 0.8m at E, 0.2m at W; ext. H 1.5m at E, 1.6m at W) with a pronounced external slope, outside which it is enclosed by a fosse (Wth 3.7m at E). The bank is best preserved on the E half, where remnants of internally and externally drystone facing are evident. The exterior stone facing rising to a height of c. 1m, but does not extend the full height of the bank slope; it is now largely tumbled. On the W half, the bank retains a low internal lip but has a pronounced external slope; there is scant trace of drystone facing, either internally or externally. The fosse is well defined at NE−SW, becoming shallow and less distinct at W; it is not evident at NW−N where it is crossed by a field fence on a roughly E−W axis. There is an entrance gap (Wth 1.8m) in the bank at ESE, with a causeway across the fosse. An eroded break (Wth 1m) pierces the bank at SW. The interior is level and grassy, with blackthorn encroaching on the NW quadrant. The bank is thickly ringed with hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel and sycamore. A rath (MA072-012----) and a possible cashel (MA072-013----) are located c. 200m to S and SE, respectively, and are visible from this rath. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 22 February 2021