Hillfort, Carrowgarve, Co. Roscommon
At the summit of Mewlaghadooey Hill in County Roscommon sits a remarkable hillfort that offers a glimpse into Ireland's ancient past.
Hillfort, Carrowgarve, Co. Roscommon
This subcircular enclosure spans roughly 200 metres from east to west and 150 metres from north to south, making it a substantial prehistoric monument. The site is defined by an earthen bank along its western edge, standing about six metres wide and reaching heights of up to 30 centimetres on its outer face, whilst the northern and eastern boundaries are marked by a modest scarp about 20 centimetres high.
What makes this hillfort particularly fascinating is the collection of burial monuments incorporated within its bounds. A bowl barrow sits inside the perimeter at the northwest, whilst two ring barrows occupy positions along the southern edge; one directly on the perimeter line at the south-southeast, and another just inside at the southeast. An ancient road approaches the enclosure from the southeast, suggesting this was once an important ceremonial or defensive site. Though a modern public road now cuts through the western portion near the bowl barrow, and field banks from later agricultural use cross the site, the essential character of this prehistoric complex remains clear.
The hillfort’s proximity to the Rathra ceremonial enclosure, located approximately 600 metres to the west-northwest, hints at a broader ritual landscape that once dominated this area of Roscommon. Together, these monuments paint a picture of a highly organised society that invested considerable effort in creating spaces for ceremony, burial, and perhaps defence. The careful positioning of the barrows within and along the enclosure’s perimeter suggests deliberate planning, whilst the approaching road indicates this was a place meant to be accessed and used by the community over generations.