Discover Alone, back to main map

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ballyknock

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort

What is recorded here

An earthen ringfort in Ballyknock, County Carlow, Ireland, holds a subrectangular space forty-two metres wide where an old bank still stands beside a newer wall. Gaps appear at the northeast, east-southeast and southwest, yet the true entrance has vanished. The fort has become part of the surrounding field system, suggesting people lived there, left it, and returned to shape the land around it.
The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 Subrectangular area (max. Dim c. 42m WNW-ESE) incorporated into field system. Originally enclosed by bank extensively modified and in places replaced by wall. Gaps at NE, ESE and SW, but original entrance not identifiable.
A fairy fort, or earthen ringfort, in Ballyknock is a circular earthen enclosure typical of early-medieval Ireland, likely dating to between the 5th and 10th centuries. Local tradition associates such sites with the faé, and they were often avoided due to beliefs in their magical or supernatural significance.

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

What survives
Recorded monument

Places near here

Add to this placeAdd a picture Comment or add a tip

Explore 1,118,481 places