Near Leenane, in a location with a view of Killary Fjord, the discovery was made. The identification of the old mound required several trips and the removal of a dense layer of vegetation.

Michael Gibbons, an archaeologist, verified that it is a "ring barrow" monument type. "Last year, while conducting fieldwork near Killary Harbour, a landowner asked me to examine an oddity on some newly purchased property.

It wasn't entirely obvious what it was because it was covered with bracken. I returned several times to the location, which is on the Mayo side of the border, midway between Ashleigh Waterfall and Delphi Lodge.

It is a burial mound from the later prehistoric period, which dates to between 1,600 and 3,000 years ago, as I can now establish.

This style of monument is called a ring barrow, and while they are prevalent on Ireland's major royal sites, particularly at Rathcroghan and Tara, they are quite uncommon in this region.

"There are small numbers elsewhere found near Ardrahan and Oranmore in Galway and a few others overlooking Lough Mask and a handful close to Doolin in Co Clare."

The site is made up of a modest core burial mound that is about 17 meters in diameter, with an outer wall and ditch.

According to Mr. Gibbons, standing stones that may hold lengthy burials are occasionally placed atop the barrows. When these sites are investigated, they typically provide cremated bone beads and occasionally bronze artefacts like bronze toggles and toe rings.

"The monument is situated on a nice piece of land in a lovely spot. Although I have discovered a stone fort and a standing stone above it, which are situated some distance away on one of the northern peaks of the Maumturk Mountains, I think this is the oldest structure on Killary Fjord," Mr. Gibbons stated.