Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ballyneety (ardfinnan Par.),spital-Land (ardfinnan Par.)

Prominently sited on the crest of the highest hill in the immediate vicinity, in undulating terrain, under pasture. A disused quarry extends up to the outer edge of the NW quadrant. Ardfinnan church (TS082-068001-) is visible on crest of hill c. 450m to the W and the tower of Ardfinnan castle (TS088-001----) is visible c. 700m to the SW. The Suir river valley lies to the S. A circular area (diam. 50m) enclosed by an earthen bank (Wth 1.7m crest, 7m base; int. H 0.94m; ext. H 3.84m) with a steep drop to the deep outer fosse (Wth 2.8m; D 1.47m) and outer bank (Wth 3.4m crest, 7.5m base; ext. H 1.6m). There is an entrance (Wth 3.7m) in the E quadrant, the area outside the entrance has been modified by later stone townland boundary which has destroyed the line of the fosse and outer bank in this sector. The interior follows the natural rise of the hill, giving it a dome-shaped appearance. There are the remains of lazy beds visible in the interior, running E-W. A field bank runs roughly NE-SW to the SE of the enclosure. The outer bank is quite denuded in the NE quadrant. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 14 February 2014 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 8/1956).