What is recorded here

Fairy forts are human ringforts misnamed by later folklore, and Ballyvarra is no exception. Its earthen bank still stands in a grass field beside the R506, wide enough to circle twice before meeting itself. People may have lived there, buried there, or simply passed it with a nod. The fairies entered later, attracted by the shape and silence.

In grassland, in SE sector of a large field approx. 100m W of the public road R506. Depicted as a sub-circular shaped area (approx. int. diam. 21m; ext. dims. 27m NE-SW x 32m NW-SE) on the 1840 OS 6-inch map. This map shows post-1700 field boundaries intersecting the site at E and SW. The 1897 25-inch OS map depicts the monument as a sub-circular shaped area (approx. ext. dims. 36m NE-SW x 32m NW-SE) defined by a bank that is incorporated into a field boundary at SE. Visible on Digital Globe imagery taken 2011-13 as a sub-circular-shaped area enclosed by tree-covered bank with relict field boundaries visible to N and W. Google Earth imagery 2018 shows a similar image with the field recently planted. See attached Google Earth orthoimage taken 28/06/2018 Compiled by: Fiona Rooney and Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 9 June 2020

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