What is recorded here

Adare’s fairy fort is a surviving earthen ringfort in Old Park, marked on maps since 1840 and shaped into a demesne feature after 1700. Its wide fosse, tall bank and tree-covered circle suggest a place people made, changed and remembered rather than a mere fairy tale. The Ash trees hold the shape steady while the story refuses to leave it alone.

On level ground formerly known as ‘Old Park’, a surviving element of Adare Demesne planted with mature deciduous trees. The monument is depicted on the 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map as a circular-shaped ringfort standing in the Deerpark of Adare Manor. On the 1897 ed. OS 25-inch map a wide external fosse is depicted enclosing the central area of the ringfort. Site surveyed by ASI in 2000 and described as consisting of a raised circular-shaped area (int. dims. 27.5m N-S x 27m E-W) enclosed by an earth and stone bank (Wth 1.6m; H 4.2m) external fosse (Wth 10.5m; D 1.5m) with possible entrance gap (Wth 4m) at E. Fosse largely infilled from NE to SE. Interior slopes slightly to SE. Fosse and bank appear to have been re-modelled as a demesne feature possibly in the post-1700 period. The ringfort is covered in mature Ash trees visible on Google earth orthophoto taken 28/06/2018 and 29/03/2012. See attached sketch plan surveyed and drawn by the ASI and Google Earth orthoimage Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan Date of upload: 28 July 2020 See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – taken on 04/03/2006.

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