Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Finlough

In undulating pasture, on the narrow top of an ENE-WSW ridge and overlooking Fin Lough to NW. A raised oval area (31.1m N-S; 32.8m E-W) enclosed by two earthen banks with an intervening fosse. The inner bank (Wth 3.7m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 1.3m) is best preserved along the W arc, only a low internal lip is evident elsewhere. A possible entrance (Wth c. 2m) is at SE, with possible stone kerbing. The fosse (Wth 2.4m) is evident S-NW and is infilled elsewhere. The outer bank (Wth 2.4m; int. H 0.35m; ext. H 0.6m) is evident SE-S, incorporated into a field boundary S-NW and levelled elsewhere. Adjacent to E is a rectangular field planted with young coniferous trees. The inner bank and part of the interior at E have also been planted with coniferous trees. Mature deciduous trees grow on the perimeter S-N and in part of the W half of the interior. A few metres to E is a roughly circular area (diam. c. 6m) defined by an irregular bank of stone (Wth 2m; H 0.5m), on the E side of which is an irregular depression (Wth 2m; D 0.5m) which extends c. 5m to E. Both features may be the result of recent disturbance. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008