What is recorded here

Half a century of quarrying stole the land around Derrykearn, forcing the ancient ring to rise like a mound instead of sinking into the field. The result is a monstrous shadow, a dark hole in the earth where a home should be, proving that human greed can reshape even forgotten history.

A large roughly circular ringfort (diam. 50m), the height of which has been greatly accentuated from W-NE by the lowering of the surrounding field level as a result of quarrying. Remains of the bank (Wth 1.5m, int. H 1.1m) are distinguishable from S-W where its outer face has been heavily scarped. Elsewhere it is heavily overgrown with hawthorn and bushes. The interior is rough and uneven and overgrown with briars and nettles. Earlier site inspection on the 16/08/1990 describes the site as being situated at the top of a ridge. A circular area defined by a bank (Wth c. 4m, ext. H c. 2.5m, int. H c. 1m) and deep outer fosse (ext. H c. 1m) except at the E. Causewayed entrance (Wth c. 3.5m) at SW. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

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