Ballydonagh Fort

In pasture on W-facing slope just E of road. Large circular area (50.1m N-S; 48.3m E-W) enclosed by inner bank (H 1m), earthen, topped with large stones; intervening broad shallow fosse; outer bank (ext. H 1.5m), very broad based; outer fosse, narrow, shallow (D 0.2m). Third and outermost bank may be recent field fence. Gap in banks to E, with causeways; in inner and outer banks to WSW; other recent breaks in inner bank. Interior slopes gently to W, planted, as are banks, with conifers. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Ballydonagh Fort, Ballydonagh More is a large, likely early-medieval ringfort, characterised by a double bank and fosse system, typical of agricultural and defensive settlements of the period. Local folklore, though not detailed in the entry, often associates such forts with fairy dwellings or ancient druidic sites.