Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Carrigskeewaun

In pasture, located on the narrow top of a rocky NW−SW ridge. The enclosure occupies a shallow, level dip or saddle between two outcropping peaks at the break of slope on the NE edge of the ridge, where the slope drops steeply to a sea inlet merging at its E end with an area of salt marsh. On the SW side, ground falls away more gradually in undulating folds broken by rock outcropping. A flat expanse of damp pasture/salt marsh and a lake border the NW and SW sides of the ridge, respectively. A small cluster of modern buildings stands c. 50m to W of the enclosure, on the site of a 19th-century settlement (shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map). This possible cashel is not shown on the 1838 and 1919 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a roughly oval area (20m NW−SE; 17m NE−SW) enclosed by a collapsed stone wall. It encompasses the full width of the level space available at this point on the narrow ridge top. The enclosing wall is evident at SE−NW as a low, grass-covered stone bank (Wth 1.5-2m; H 0.2-0.5m), with a surface jumble of loose stones in parts at SW−W. At NNW−SE, where the circuit of the enclosure coincides with the break of slope of the ridge, the wall is poorly defined and difficult to trace, though stone tumble is evident on the slope below. There is a narrow break (Wth 0.8m) in the stone bank at WNW, but it is unclear if this is the original entrance. The level, grassy interior is traversed by relict cultivation ridges on a NE−SW axis. The exact nature and date of this enclosure is uncertain. The cultivation ridges in the interior indicated that the enclosure was used in the 18th/19th century, most likely by the inhabitants of the vernacular settlement shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map c. 50m to W. The cultivation ridges, however, appear to post-date the enclosure wall, and it is possible that the enclosure represents the ruined remains of a cashel. There is insufficient visible diagnostic evidence to confirm this, but the enclosure is similar in size and siting to a cashel (MA105-018----) located on a rocky spur 600m to SW. On the NE side of the enclosure, the ridge slope drops c. 3-4m to a narrow terrace, on which there is a small enclosure/possible hut site (MA105-020002-). Images: MA105-020001-_01.JPG Possible cashel viewed from SE MA105-020001-_02.JPG Viewed from NW MA105-020001-_03.JPG Possible cashel overlooking possible hut site (MA105-020002-) (red arrow) on terrace below, viewed from SE Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 1 November 2017