Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Farthingstown (rathconrath By.)

Situated on a natural rise in undulating pasture with extensive views to N, E and W, which are inhibited to ESE, where overlooked by a steep hill. Depicted as a substantial roughly circular-shaped earthwork on the 1837 OS 6-inch map. Depicted as a modified, slightly irregular or oval-shaped earthwork on the revised 1913 OS 25-inch map. Described in 1983 as a bivallate ringfort consisting of an oval-shaped area (dims. 45m NE-SW; 33.5m NNW-SSE) enclosed by a bank, intervening fosse and a low outer bank. A gap (Wth 3.2m) in the inner bank at SE may represent an entrance. This is defined by large stones set on edge which could be the remains of a stone revetment. The low, narrow inner bank is of earth and stone and has largely been reduced to a scarp N-E-S-SW. It has the remains of an internal stone facing from NNE-E where it has the appearance of a wall footing. The narrow, shallow fosse and remains of a low outer bank only survive for a short stretch from SSW-SW-W and at E. The fosse and outer bank are replaced by a narrow berm-like feature from SSE-S-SSW. A modern field fence running NE-SW truncates the fosse and outer bank from NW-N-NNE. The interior is uneven and rises irregularly from the perimeter towards the centre. The remains of a possible house site (WM017-102001-) is visible in SW quadrant. There is a large disturbance depression just outside the perimeter at NW. Monument is visible as an oval-shaped tree-lined earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. A large pond lies c. 10m to SE. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 09 January 2019