What is recorded here

Coolkehan is a buried ringfort in County Mayo, not a fantasy camp, though the name still sounds like invention. Its earthen bank and outer ditch survive in pasture beside a low ridge, with a possible entrance at the west and a cave marked in one sector. A second ringfort sits nearby, suggesting this was a lived landscape rather than a lonely marker. The chamber may have stored grain, hidden people or simply served the household that shaped the earth.

In pasture just off the E summit of a low ridge. Recorded as a circular enclosure and labelled ‘Coolkehan’ on the first (1837) and Cassini (1920) editions of the OS 6-inch map. An almost circular area (int. diams. 34m N–S; 32m E–W) is enclosed by an overgrown round-topped earthen bank (int. H 0.1m at E to 1m at N; Wth 4m at S to 8m elsewhere; ext. H 1.7m–2.2m) and a flat-bottomed outer fosse (D 0.6m; Wth 1.5m at N to 2m at E). A gap (Wth 3m) in the enclosing bank at WSW may be an original entrance. The partly rush-covered interior slopes down slightly towards the E and a later field boundary shown running WNW-ESE across the S interior on the first edition (1837) of the OS 6-inch map has been removed. This map also records a ‘Cave’ (a possible Man-made underground passage – MA070-119002-) in the SW sector of the interior. A ringfort (MA070-120----) lies c. 185m to the NE. Date of visit: 13-5-2025 Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.