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Mayo - 14
Clare Island - Strake

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 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

Doonagappul - promontory fort

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).

Cliffs on Clare Island

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

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

Mayo - Vestvågøy - Mid-Argyll

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