Ballymahullog Fort

Situated on top of a relatively low drumlin with higher hills around it. It is described as ‘Ballymahullog Fort’ in gothic lettering on the OS 6-inch maps. This is a raised circular and grass-covered area (diam. 46m ENE-WSW) defined by a scarp (H 1.4 at WSW to 2.3m at ENE) separated by a fosse (Wth of top 5-6m; ext. D 0.6m at WSW to 1.4m at ENE) from a middle bank (at N: Wth c. 5m; ext. H 1.7m) that is poorly defined SE-SW and incorporated into a field bank WNW-NE. This bank is separated by a fosse (at WSW: Wth of top 6m; Wth of base 2.5m; ext. D 1m) that is only visible WSW-N-ENE from an outer bank (at WSW: Wth of base 5.5m; ext. H 1.7m) WSW-WNW (max. ext. diam. 75m ENE-WSW). There is a widened entrance through the inner (Wth of base 5.8m) and outer (Wth of base 10.5m) banks and an inner causeway (Wth of top 4.7m) at S. Archaeological testing (03E1345) by just to the NW produced evidence of a ditch (Wth 1.8m; D 0.55m plus) that is probably a further outer fosse of the rath (excavations.ie 2003:1447) (Meenan 2003, 4). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 26 October 2018 Amended 9 June 2021, 15 December 2022

Ballymahullog Fort is a likely early-medieval ringfort, characterized by a raised, grass-covered circular area with a diameter of approximately 46 meters. Local tradition and its setting on a drumlin may connect it to folklore surrounding fairy forts, though specific legends are not recorded.