What is recorded here

A forty-metre earthen ring stands in the Aghnahily woods, its flat-topped bank still proud after centuries of rain. It faces the rising ground where Dunamase Castle watches from a kilometre away, suggesting a human hand shaped the slope long before the trees strangled the memory. The earth may have held a family, a fortress or a forgotten god, but the briars have taken back the answer.

National Monument No. 540. Ringfort in woodland on NW facing slope of rising ground with good views from W-N-NE, higher ground to S. Dunamase Castle (LA013-052----) 650m to NW. Depicted as a circular earthwork on the 1839 and 1907 editions of the OS 6-inch map. Present remains consist of a circular area (diam. c. 40m) defined by a well preserved flat-topped bank (top Wth 1.5-3m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.7m-1.5m) and shallow external fosse (Wth 2m; ext. D 0.4m) best visible on the upslope side of the monument. The interior of the ringfort slopes from S to N following the natural slope of the land. The ringfort is covered in trees and briars making detailed examination of the monument impossible. Possible entrance gap (Wth 3m) at NE (SMR file 03/01/1973). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 23 March 2015

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