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Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Gorteen (ballinastack Ed)

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort

What is recorded here

Fairy forts are human places misnamed, often built before records existed and forgotten after. This is an earthen ringfort in Gorteen, a shallow circular ridge now reduced to grass, soil and memory. It may have marked a homestead, a boundary, a ritual ground or a abandoned neighbourhood. The fairy label is a later invention, born of wonder and fear, not proof.
In grassland overlooking bogland to S. Very poorly preserved subcircular rath (N-S 36m) defined by a denuded bank, no visible surface trace of which survives from SW to NW. Possible external fosse visible from N through E to SE. A field boundary cuts the monument at W. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway'. Compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

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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