What is recorded here

Fairy fort in Ballcatteen, County Cork: an earthen ringfort, oval 27 by 36 metres, with a worn bank up to 1.4 metres high on an east-facing grassland slope. The 1842 survey marked a circular enclosure, outer bank and central scarped platform, with a trackway at the west and a possible entrance at the northwest. People may have lived, herded or hidden there before the field fence and gorse took the shape back; the fairies, as usual, keep the best rooms for themselves.

In grassland, on E-facing slope. Shown on 1842 OS 6-inch map as circular enclosure with outer bank and central scarped platform, bounded to W by trackway. Oval area (27m N-S; 36m E-W) now defined by heavily denuded bank (max. H 1.4m); joins field fence on NE side. Gorse growth may trace line of inner platform to NE. No trace of fosse. Possible entrance to NW; numerous other gaps. 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

A fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Ballcatteen is a likely early-medieval defensive or domestic site, indicated by its circular enclosure with an outer bank and central platform. Local tradition may associate it with fairy lore, as suggested by its common name, though specific folklore is not recorded.

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