Mayo -
9
Carrownalurgan
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Site/Artefact
Carrownalurgan
Type
Ráth
Site
Number
SMR Mayo 088 083
National Grid
Reference
098150 East
283410 North
Map (
1:50000)
Ordnance Survey Ireland,
Discovery Series 31
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Wiremesh topographic image
of Carrownalugan Ráth,
vertical exaggeration x 2 (Landscape &
Geophysical Services)
|
Description
Ráths in their simplest form may
be described as space most frequently circular,
surrounded by a bank and fosse. The purpose of
these monuments is clouded by ancient repairs and
later agricultural damage but it is clear that they
were not designed solely for military reasons but
in most cases as a form of protected farmstead
(Ó'Ríordáin, 1987). Indeed,
they were more likely to have been built to repel
the lightning cattle raids which were endemic in
the Early Christian period in Ireland (Lucas,
1989).
Carrownalurgan is a classic univallate
ráth located on a drumlin with commanding
views of the surrounding landscape. Its broad
enclosing bank of earth and stone varies from 5m to
7.3m wide at the base. The construction of the bank
has created a ditch referred to as a fosse which
can be seen in most sectors. Measuring 4m wide and
0.4m deep the extent of the fosse would indicate
that the construction of this ráth was a
labour-intensive activity, perhaps informing us as
to the status of the occupants. The name
Carrownalurgan translates from Gaelic as the
quarter of the elongated hill or ridge (Morahan,
2001).
Excavation Details
Not Available
Access/Ownership
Clew Bay Heritage Trail
References
- Morahan, L. 2001 Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo
archaeology, landscape and people, Croagh
Patrick Archaeological Committee, Mayo.
- Lucas, A. 1989 Cattle in ancient Ireland, as
found in Stout, M. 2000 The Irish Ringfort, Four
Courts Press, Dublin, p. 20
- Ó'Ríordáin, S.P. 1987
Antiquities of the Irish Countryside, Fifth
Edition, Methuen, London and New York, pp
29-31
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