What is recorded here

Fairy forts are human places misnamed, often by people who stopped asking questions. In Ballycoolan, a visible earthen ring and outer ditch mark a real residence or defensive site. The fairy label does not remove people from the story; it exposes the moment human memory thinned.

A circular area (diam c. 45.3m) defined by an earthen bank (Wth c. 4.7m, int. H c. 0.6m, ext. H c. 1.2m), and external fosse (Wth at base 1.8m) from S-NNW. Possible original entrance at NW. 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. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.