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Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Gortahork

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort

What is recorded here

On a drumlin summit in Gortahork, a grassy ring with earthen banks and a stone-lined entrance waits for human life. It is not certain whether people lived there or left it for the fairies, but the shape still holds. The fort is small enough to walk around in minutes, yet large enough to keep its own counsel.
Situated on the summit of a drumlin. This is a grass-covered circular area (diam. 28m E-W; 26m N-S; int. diam. 25m E-W; 23m N-S) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.7-1.1m) with some scrub and traces of internal facing-stones, separated by a fosse (Wth of top 5-6m; Wth of base 3-4m; D 0.3-0.8m) from an outer bank (Wth 2-4m; ext. H 0.2-0.6m). There is a stone-lined entrance (Wth 3.5m) through the inner bank and an unlined entrance (Wth 5.3m) through the outer bank at ENE. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 September 2008

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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