Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Blessington Demesne

Archaeological test trenching was carried out by Muireann Ní Cheallacháin of IAC Archaeology under licence 21E0133 which followed on from a geophysical survey conducted in December 2020 by John Nicholls of Target Geophysics under licence 20R0236. The results of this test trenching were summarised as follows; 'A total of 148 trenches were excavated across the site measuring 6820 linear metres. Testing at AA1 confirmed the presence of a heavily truncated rectangular ditched enclosure (possible original int. diameter: 75m x 65m) and the partial remains of an annex to the south of the enclosure as identified in the geophysical survey. At least 30m (c.50%) of the western arm of the enclosure ditch along with an area measuring c.75m x 30m (c. 40%) of the enclosure’s interior have been heavily truncated by the construction of the distribution road. Testing has also revealed that the entire eastern extent of the rectangular enclosure ditch has been heavily truncated by construction activity associated with the distribution road. While the enclosure ditch ranges in width from 2.3m to 4m, the relatively shallow nature of the surviving enclosure ditch (0.7m-1m) and some of the habitation features suggests the site has been truncated by agricultural activity over time. A large pit of dumped post-medieval rubble material possibly associated with the demolition of Downshire house and two gravel extraction pits were also identified within AA 1a suggesting further modern truncation of the site as a whole. Items recovered from the investigation of the enclosure ditches and internal features include fragments of lignite/jet bracelet, flint lithics, stone tools, metalworking waste of iron and possible non-ferrous metals, kiln or furnace furniture and a possible crucible fragment. The form of the enclosure and annex and the habitation and metalworking evidence along with the recovery of a lignite/jet bracelet suggests that it may be the highly fragmented remains of an early medieval ringfort' (Ní Cheallacháin 2021, 17-19). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Muireann Ni Cheallacháin Date of upload: 28 May 2021

A fairy fort, or earthen ringfort, in Blessington Demesne is a circular earthwork enclosure typical of early-medieval Ireland, likely dating to between the 5th and 10th centuries AD. Such sites are often associated with folklore involving fairies or other supernatural beings, and were traditionally avoided or revered by local communities.