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Mayo - 9
Carrownalurgan

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 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

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

Mayo Sites and Artefacts

1. Mayo Abbey 2. Balla 3. Ballintubber Abbey 4. Tóchar Phadraig 5. Aghagower 6. Lankhill 7. Boheh 8. Croagh Patrick Summit 9. Carrownalurgan 10. Ardoley 11. Kiladangan 12. Glaspatrick 13. Shrawee 14. Clare Island - Strake 15. Clare Island - Lecarrow 16. Caher Island 17. Durless

18. Carrowmore 19. Knappaghmanagh 20. Cushalogurt 21. Carrowkeel Ecclesiastical Remains 22. Thornhill 23. Carrowkeel Murrisk 24. Carrowkeel Cahernaran 25. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-1 26. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-2 27. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-3 28. Carrowmacloughlin/ Glencally/ Teevenacroaghy 29. Carrowmacloughlin Sweathouses 30. Glaspatrick Holy Well

31. Glaspatrick Rath-1 32. Glaspatrick Early Ecclesiastical Remains 33. Glaspatrick Ringfort 34. Glaspatrick Rath-2 35. Glaspatrick Ecclesiatical Remains 36. Glaspatrick Altar 38. Glaspatrick Graveyard 39. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-1 40. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-2 41. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-3 42. Teevenacroaghy

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