Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ballygrania

In undulating pasture, straddling a low ridge with a steep W-facing slope at the base of which is an expanse of flat damp pasture. A substantially raised circular platform (28.6m N-S; 26m E-W) defined by a scarp (H 2.45m at E, 3.55m at W), topped by a low slumped stony bank (Wth 2-3m; int. H 0.5m) NW-W. The base of the platform is surrounded by a fosse (Wth 6m) NNW-SSW outside of which is a berm (Wth 10-11m). The berm continues around the base of the platform SSW-NNW, where the fosse is absent. A low bank (Wth 1.5m; H 0.2m) tops the inner edge of the berm while a similar bank (Wth 1.5m; H 0.4m) is evident SE-S on its outer edge. At its outer edge the berm has a pronounced scarp (H 1.7m at E; 3.5m at W) that drops to an external fosse (Wth 3.5m) NNW-SSW. On the W half of the rath the enclosing elements are built up or adapted to compensate for the steep natural slope. Both fosses are clearly defined NW-SSW where they cut through elevated ground but peter out elsewhere. The interior has an even surface with much stone protruding randomly from the sod. The W and SW portions of the interior are raised to compensate for the natural hillslope. The entrance is at E where there is a broad poorly defined gap (Wth 6m) in the bank and a ramped slope to corresponding causeways (Wth 3m) across the fosses. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008