Enclosure in Achonry

In pasture, on a natural elevation in gently undulating terrain. Ground falls away to E and S and more gently at SW. Knocknashee is clearly visible on the N skyline. Forestry plantations now cover much of the surrounding landscape. There is a cashel (SL032-235001-) immediately to S. This possible enclosure is not shown on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps; it is visible in aerial imagery. The remains are scant and difficult to interpret. A roughly D-shaped area (18m E-W to wall at W; c. 22-24m N−S) is defined by a slight rise or scarp on the curving E side; the rise/scarp (Wth c. 2.5-3m, top Wth c. 1m), which is distinguished by shorter, yellower grass growth, barely rises above internal ground level and has a slumped external slope (ext. H 0.5-0.6m). There appears to be a break at E, possibly an entrance. The S arc is difficult to trace; it may overlie/truncate the N arc of a cashel (SL032-235001-) which lies immediately to S. A N−S field wall defines the straight W side; there is no trace of a continuation of the enclosure to W of this wall. On the N arc the enclosing scarp drops to an outer terrace (Wth 2-2.5m) defined on its outer edge by another low rise/scarp (ext. H 0.5m), which follows the natural contour, curving N−NE and then swinging to E for a few meters before petering out; it may be the remains of a later field boundary that skirted the elevated ground. The interior is level with a possible hut site (SL032-235003-) in the N half, with a telegraph pole adjacent to it. An enclosure (SL032-187----) is located 340m to NNE and two ringbarrow (SL038-005----; SL038-006----) are 300m to SE. Attached images: SL032-235002-_01.JPG Viewed from N SL032-235002-_02.JPG Viewed from NE Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 16 September 2022