Ballygastell Fort

Situated to the E side of the crown of a hillock, in improved pasture with extensive views across lower, gently undulating countryside ENE-NW. Named on OS historic mapping as ‘Ballygastell Fort’. A roughly circular area (29m N-S; 27m E-W) defined by the remains of a levelled bank (int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.2m; Wth at top 2.4m; overall Wth 7.4m) NNW-ENE and W-WNW. The enclosing elements have been reduced to a low scarp (Wth 3.4m; H 0.6m) WNW-NNW and a higher scarp (Wth 3.3m; H 1.2m) SE-W. A small gap (Wth 1.5m) is situated at N and a wide gap (Wth c. 10m) is located ENE-SE, as per 25-inch OS map. There are faint traces of an outer fosse (Wth 5m; D 0.1m) W-WNW and NNW-ENE. The fosse appears to continue SSE-W, where it is respected by the field boundary, however it is densely overgrown around this arc. The interior has a distinct E-facing slope where it falls uniformly and uninterrupted to the exterior due to the wide gap ENE-SE. The enclosing elements and interior are grass covered except for the scarp SSE-W which is covered in furze and thorn trees. A field boundary (long-axis NE-SW) is c. 14m to SE. The following images have been uploaded: CL035-026----_01.jpg From NE. General view of monument. CL035-026----_02.jpg From SW. Cross sectional view of low scarp at NW. CL035-026----_03.jpg From N. Cross sectional view of bank and fosse at W. Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 20 June 2018

Ballygastell Fort, Garruragh is a likely early-medieval ringfort, situated on a hillock with extensive views, suggesting a strategic defensive or agricultural function. Local tradition may associate it with fairy lore, as is common with such sites in Irish folklore, though specific stories are not recorded.