Mayo -
14
Clare Island - Strake
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Site/Artefact
Clare Island - Strake
Type
Promontory Fort
Site
Number
SMR Mayo 085 01501
National Grid
Reference
068800 East
284160 North
Map (
1:50000)
Ordnance Survey Ireland,
Discovery Series, 30
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Doonagappul -
promontory fort
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Description
The site at 'Doonagappul' is a
typical example of a promontory fort on
the west coast of Ireland. Located on the
southern shore of Clare Island and one of
five forts on the Island it lies at the
southern extremity of a dense
concentration of promontory forts centred
on the northwest Mayo region (Casey,
1993). These coastal promontory forts have
an almost western European distribution,
suggesting a separate building tradition
and not an adaptation of the local
hillfort type to a coastal situation
(Aalen, 1997).
Defended on three sides by the sea and
on the landward side by an earth and stone
bank it would have provided a formidable
obstacle to attack. Evidence from an
excavation undertaken at the site in 1992
suggests that this may be an example of an
unfinished promontory fort (Casey,
1993).
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Cliffs on Clare
Island
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Excavation
Details
Casey, M. 1993, Report on the Archaeological
excavation of Doonagappul promontory fort, Strake
townland, Clare Island, County Mayo, in New Survey
of Clare Island, Ed: Gosling, P. 1991-1995, Royal
Irish Academy, PP, 54-63
Access/Ownership
Clew Bay Archaeological Trail
References
- Aalen, F.H.A. (ed) 1997, Atlas of the Irish
Rural Landscape, Dublin, p.43
- Casey, M. 1993, Report on the Archaeological
excavation of Doonagappul promontory fort,
Strake townland, Clare Island,
- Co. Mayo, in New Survey of Clare Island,
Gosling, P. (ed)
- 1991-1995, Royal Irish Academy, PP,
54-63
Other Mayo Sites and
Artefacts
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