What is recorded here
Indicated is a circular earthen fort in County Mayo pasture, marked by a shallow western depression where brambles still grow and a children’s burial ground lies hidden inside. Its banks rise beside a meandering river, ringed with hawthorn, ash, beech and sycamore, while stone tumble from a later field wall crowds the outer slope. The place keeps its shape in grass and shadow, inviting wonder about the lives that played, died and were forgotten within its quiet circle.
Located in pasture, in an area of mixed grassland and bog, close to the S boundary of the townland. There is a gentle fall of ground towards the meandering Course River, which is c. 200m to N.
A circular raised area (33.4m E–W; c. 35m N–S) defined by an earthen bank (Wth c. 4m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 1.4m at SW, 1.6m at NE), and enclosed by a fosse (Wth 4m at SW, 3.4-4m at NE) with an external bank (Wth 2.5m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.8m at NE). The inner bank is well preserved at S–SW, but for much of its circuit it is reduced to a scarp retaining only a slight internal rim in parts. The fosse is well defined. There is much stone tumble on the top and slopes of the external bank; this appears to the collapsed remnants of a field wall, which was built on top of the external bank.
The entrance may have been at SE where there is a low area in the inner bank, and a corresponding low area in the external bank, now partly blocked by boulders. The interior is in general level, except for a slightly raised area in the NW quadrant. There is a shallow depression (c. 5m across) at W, marked by a growth of brambles. The interior was used as a children’s burial ground (MA063-001002-).
The perimeter is ringed with hawthorn, ash, beech and sycamore; there is a small stand of mature beech trees in the interior, as well as clumps of blackthorn and brambles.
Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 6 July 2020
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
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