Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ballyglass (rathconrath By.)

Situated on the SW side, at the top of a hill, in pasture with good views in all directions. Ringforts (WM018-049----, WM018-046---- and WM018-047----) lie c. 100m to N, c. 150 to NW and c. 165m to W, respectively. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map and the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork. Monument described in 1970 as an oval-shaped area (dims. 35m N-S; 30m E-W) enclosed by a bank which is reduced to a scarp in places. The bank (int. H 0.6m; ext. H 1.2m; Wth at top 1m; overall Wth 4.2m) is low in general and is slightly defaced at NNW. Two large upright slabs set radially in the bank at SE may define the original entrance although this is uncertain. These two stones are locally believed to mark the site of a 'King's Grave' (SMR File). There is no visible trace of a fosse. The interior has a SSW-facing slope with slight traces of cultivation ridges running NE-SW. Monument is visible as a partially tree-lined earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. See attached sketch plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 04 February 2019

A fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Ballyglass, likely dating to the early medieval period, is situated on a hilltop with extensive views, typical of defensive and strategic settlements of the time. It is associated with local folklore referring to "fairy" inhabitants and may have been considered a sacred or supernatural site in traditional belief.