What is recorded here

Fairy forts are human made ring forts where ordinary people lived, worked and died before fairy tales renamed them. In Castletowncooley, a D-shaped bank and ditch enclose a wide grassy space, with a stone-faced oval platform preserved against the inner earthwork. A mountain stream still cuts across one side, and a narrow gap in the banks marks the entrance. The shape is clear even when the history is not, which is why people have always been reluctant to walk inside.

The following description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 D-shaped area (int. dims. 51m N-S, 45.5m E-W) enclosed by bank (Wth 5m, H 0.7m internally, 1.5m externally) and external fosse (Wth 4m, D c. 1m) with outer bank (Wth 3.3m, H 0.8m internally, 1m externally) on all sides except NW-NE where a mountain stream cuts across the fosse. Entrance gap (Wth c. 2m) in both banks at SSE. Oval hut platform (LH008-046002-) (dims. c. 19m by 9m, H 0.8m) faced with large stones abutting inner bank at E.

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