Fairy fort / ringfort in Carrownlacka

In average pasture, broken by rock outcropping, with rising ground rises to N. A farmstead is located 50m to SSW. According to local tradition there was a ‘fort’ at this location. A very slightly raised, semi-circular area (30m E−W; 16m N−S) can be discerned which corresponds with a sub-rectangular area shown on the 1919 OS 6-inch map. It is defined on the curving side E−W by a slight scarp and bordered on the straight side at N by a WNW–ESE field wall. There is no visible trace of a continuation to N of the field wall. According to local information, it was originally enclosed by a ‘thick stone wall’; when the walls were removed, sand and gravel was extracted from this area, and bones were also exposed. The bones may have come from burials (MA073-045004-), which according to tradition were located here. Slight remnants of another scarp curving in a shallow arc (L 30m E–W) are evident 18m to S, corresponding with a roughly semi-circular area shown on the 1919 OS 6-inch map. A bullaun stone (MA073-045003-) is located on the SE edge of this scarp. A souterrain is located c. 15m N of this scarp and 10m to W of the northern scarp. According local information, fragments of iron slag were found in this field. A possible enclosure (MA073-046001-) and a bullaun stone (MA073-046002-) are located 50m to SW. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 22 June 2021