Kilcashel Stone Fort is situated on a prominent sandstone ridge that once was home to a further two cashels that are both now sadly destroyed. The townland is rich in archaeological history but the stone fort is the most prominent giving the area its name Kilcashel, in Irish Coill an Chaisil, or ‘Wood of the Stone Fort’. It is a large and impressive structure with a diameter of around 30 metres and substantial walls measuring on average 2.5 metres in width. The height of its walls vary and internally can reach as high as 2.5 metres and externally 3 metres, rising to 4 metres on its south west side. A short narrowing passageway on the fort’s east side of 3.5 metres in length leads to the inside of the fort where the remains of steps leading to a parapet walkway which can be seen on its south and north internal walls, though quite overgrown and ruinous. There are the remains of a souterrain, two creep-ways into chambers in the circular wall, and also what is believe to be the foundation stones of two houses. This fort would have been inhabited by one family and could have been in use at any or all stages from the Bronze Age to the Early Medieval Period, many were in use well into the 11th century. The stone fort at Kilcashel is certainly one of the finest I have visited and its setting in the sparsely populated Mayo countryside makes for a truly pleasant visit.

GPS: 53.8834, -8.68028