Barroe – Ringforts and Traces of the Past

Barroe brings archaeological traces together with a landscape of rolling pastureland and ridges. A ringfort, historical maps and references to Barroe House give the area a clear focus: when choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether archaeological heritage and landscape should shape your stay. Barroe lies northeast of Sligo City on the N16 National Primary Route.

A ringfort in the landscape

Barroe Ringfort SLO15-002 lies at the northeastern end of a broad ridge that runs from northeast to southwest. The gently sloping hillside, which falls towards the north-northwest, is set amid rolling pastureland. The site contains a raised circular area with a diameter of 32 metres. It is surrounded by a broad, low, flattened bank of earth and stone. Together, its location, shape and building material describe the monument in very concrete terms, while also placing it in relation to the ridge’s topography.

Barroe is part of a concentration of ringforts and enclosures across several townlands in the study area. A raised ringfort with the identifier SLO15-022 is also recorded in Barroe. The area is therefore part of an archaeological context that extends beyond the individual ringfort SLO15-002. Barroe is also one of the townlands in the extensive glacial landscape area AAP14. The choice of a holiday focus here therefore brings together archaeological themes and a landscape characterised by pastureland and ridges.

Maps and historical traces

An enclosure with the identifier SLO14-026 was shown as an oval enclosure on the 1837 OS six-inch map, but was no longer recorded on the 1940 edition. No remains of this enclosure are visible on the ground. The two map editions therefore differ in how they depict it; the absence of visible remains is another separate piece of information about the site.

Barroe House also has a specific history on the maps. The two-storey residence was originally shown on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1837. Barroe House had an outbuilding, which was also marked on this first edition and noted on the third edition of 1909–1912. These entries give the area’s history a distinct architectural dimension alongside its ringforts and enclosures, without conflating the different features into a single monument.

These distinctions can help guide your choice of holiday rental: Barroe foregrounds archaeological structures, map comparisons and the landscape. If you would rather plan your stay around other themes, the wider destination of County Sligo offers other clearly distinct options.

Other perspectives in County Sligo

Across the wider destination of County Sligo, a variety of historic sites complement its archaeological theme. Carrowmore is Ireland’s largest and oldest collection of Neolithic tombs: more than 30 surviving monuments are almost 6,000 years old. Sligo Abbey, in turn, is a Dominican priory. These examples represent different periods and architectural forms; they offer a different focus from Barroe’s ringforts and cartographic traces.

The coast and water offer other distinct themes in County Sligo. Streedagh Beach is a three-kilometre sandy beach between Streedagh Point and Connor’s Island. Its sand dunes and estuary support a rich variety of flora and fauna. Surfing and windsurfing are possible in the coastal waters; stand-up paddleboarding takes place in the sheltered estuary. Check the water conditions before taking part. Mullaghmore Head is a well-known surf spot and also has a walking route along the coast; there too, check local conditions before setting out.

The right holiday rental for you depends on which of these themes you would like to focus on during your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Derry, Mullaghmore, Ballisodare, Ballaghnatrillick, Tiratick, Tobercurry, Geevagh, Ballymote

For the wider travel overview: County Sligo.