What is recorded here
Fairy forts are usually small, but this one is large enough to swallow a house whole. Two rings of earth and gravel circle a level grass yard, broken only by a western gap where people might have entered. Trees still choke the banks, and later field walls lean against the ancient structure like guests who never left.
On a slight rise in improved pasture. Hachured on both the first edition (1842) and later, Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Ringfort’ in the RMP (1996). This large, subcircular, bivallate rath (int. diams. 55m E-W; 48m N-S) is defined by an inner bank (Wth 2.7-3.9m; int. H 0.5-0.6m; ext. H 0.8-1m) and outer bank (Wth 1.5-2.7m; int. H 0.4-0.7m; ext. H 0.2-0.4m), with an intervening fosse (basal Wth 1.45-2.3m). The banks are composed of earth with some gravel, and are overgrown by trees. Traces of a well-made stone inner-facing (H 0.5m) are visible on the N side of the inner bank. There are also several large non-earthfast boulders along the WNW arc of this bank. The flat-bottomed fosse has been reduced in width (1.1m) at SSE-SSW, due to slippage from the inner bank. There are some remains of stone outer-facing (H 0.3m) at the W side of the generally poorly preserved outer bank. The entrance gaps (Wth 1.9m in inner bank; 2.1m in outer bank) is at the WSW. The grass-covered interior is level. Later walls are built into the inner slope of the inner bank S-W, and on the outer bank at E. Another later NE-SW running field wall (townland boundary) skirts the NW edge of the outer bank.
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott
Date of upload: 9 February 2023
A large, subcircular, bivallate ringfort of likely early-medieval date, situated on a slight rise in Glencolumbkille. It is associated with local folklore referring to it as a "fairy fort," reflecting traditional beliefs in supernatural inhabitants of such sites.
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
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