Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeCastle - motte
- Recorded sizec. 42m NW-SE; c. 35-40m NE-SW; H 5m
- StatusNational Monument
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
On the SE side of a broad shallow NE-SW valley of boggy ground, overlooked SE-SW by hilly terrain broken by rock outcrops. A stream, which marks the county boundary between Sligo and Leitrim, skirts the monument E-SE.
Full archaeological record 117 words
On the SE side of a broad shallow NE-SW valley of boggy ground, overlooked SE-SW by hilly terrain broken by rock outcrops. A stream, which marks the county boundary between Sligo and Leitrim, skirts the monument E-SE.
This is a National Monument in state ownership (no. 277). A conical oval mound (c. 42m NW-SE; c. 35-40m NE-SW; H 5m) with a flat top (15.5m NW-SE; 10m NE-SW) and steeply sloping sides. Occasional large stones protrude randomly around the top edge of the mound, possibly remnants of an enclosing wall. The mound appears to be a modified natural ridge and this fact has cast some doubt on its status as a motte (Glasscock 1975, 109; Graham 1988, 121).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 18 January 2008 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More castles nearby
Visitor site National MonumentParke's Castle
Castle - tower house · Kilmore (Drumahaire By., Sramore Ed) · Leitrim · 4.8 km away
Visitor site National MonumentBallymote Castle
Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle · Carrownanty · Sligo · 19 km away
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Around Gortlownan Motte
Other heritage nearby
- Killerry ChurchAncient church · 0.4 km
- Creevelea FriaryAbbey or friary · 2.2 km
- CasheloreRingfort · 2.8 km
- Church Island ChurchAncient church · 4.7 km
- Carrownagh court tombMegalithic tomb · 5.1 km
- Carricknagat Megalithic TombsMegalithic tomb · 5.5 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 121 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 promontory fortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- The North West Trail CyclingRoad Cycling Trail · 213.1 km · nearest point 0.6 km
- SLNCR Rail Trail 'The Long Stretch' Walking TrailGreenway · 1.2 km · nearest point 1.8 km
- SLNCR Rail Trail 'The Long Stretch' Cycling TrailGreenway · 1.2 km · nearest point 1.8 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Slish WoodForests · 4.2 km
- Dooney RockForests · 6.1 km
- Rosses Point BeachBeaches · 18 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Ballygilgan, Lissadell Nature ReserveNature reserves · 19 km
- SligoWalled towns · 10 km
- Schoolhouse at AnnaghmoreHistoric stays · 16 km
- Temple HouseHistoric stays · 20 km
Other attractions nearby
- Creevelea AbbeyHistoric Houses and Castle · 2.2 km
- Shanakee AdventuresWalking · 2.6 km
- Adventure GentlyNature and Wildlife · 2.6 km
- Lough GillNatural Landscape · 4.2 km
What's on nearby
- Broadway and Beyond2026-11-11 · 10 km
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- Broadway and Beyond2026-11-13 · 10 km