Discover Alone, back to main map

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Barrahaurin

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort

What is recorded here

Fairy fort in Barrahaurin is a circular earthen ringfort with a man-made underground passage in the northeast quadrant. The entrance faces west-southwest, opening onto a sloping pasture where the land still holds its shape. The passage suggests people went below the ground inside what others called a fairy place, perhaps to hide, pray or remember.
In pasture, on WSW-facing slope. Circular, slightly raised area (32m E-W; 31m N-S) defined by earthen bank (max. int. H 1.7m); external fosse (D 1.35m) NE->SSW. Entrance (Wth 3.6m) to WSW. Man-made underground passage (CO050-044002-) in NE quadrant of interior. Field boundary skirts enclosure to SE. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009
A fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Barrahaurin is a circular early-medieval defensive or domestic settlement, likely dating to between the 5th and 10th centuries AD. Local tradition associates such sites with fairy folk or other supernatural beings, and they were often avoided or treated with reverence by rural communities.

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