Aghnamallaght Fort

Marked on the 1837 and 1928 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering on both as Aghnamallaght fort - the fort of the ford of curses. Situated on a SE-facing slope overlooking the headwaters of a SW-NE stream that feeds into the Scramoge River. This is a circular grass-covered area (diam. 45.2m NW-SE; 45.2m NE-SW) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 4.5m at SW to 9.3m at NW; int. H 0.45-1.4m; ext. H 1.7-1.8m) and hedge WSW-NE which is reduced to a scarp (H 1.25m) elsewhere. There is a rounded fosse (Wth of top 8.5-9m; Wth of base 3.3-4.5m; ext. D 0.2m at SW to 1-1.1m generally) which has faded away ENE-SE. There are gaps in the bank at WNW (Wth 2m) and N (Wth 1.5m), but the original entrance cannot be identified (max. ext. diam. 62.8m NE-SW). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010

Aghnamallaght Fort, Coolteige is a ringfort likely dating to the early medieval period, based on its typical form and the known distribution of such sites in Ireland. The name, meaning "the fort of the ford of curses," suggests a local tradition of supernatural or ritual significance, possibly linked to early Christian or pre-Christian folklore.