What is recorded here

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Hopestown is a fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Hopestown, County Westmeath, Ireland. A 1970 description records a circular earthwork with a 28-metre diameter enclosed by a substantial bank and outer fosse. The bank is disturbed by quarrying from south to south-southwest, and the outer fosse is well preserved from south-southwest through west to north, east and southeast. A gap at the southeast presumably marks the entrance, while the interior shows vague indications of cultivation ridges running east to west.

Situated on SE facing slope of low rise of ground, in gently undulating pasture. Monument described in 1970 as a circular-shaped area (diam. 28m) enclosed by a substantial earthen bank and outer fosse. The bank is disturbed by quarrying from S-SSW. There is a small gap in the crest of the bank at NW, although a gap (Wth at top 6.3m; basal Wth 2m) at SE presumably marks the entrance. There is no definite trace of a causeway at SE but the fosse is defaced at this location and may have been removed. The external fosse is wide and U-shaped and is well preserved from SSW-W-N-E-SE and is defaced from SE-S-SSW. There is a slight counterscarp bank outside the fosse from NNE-E-ESE and the ground is disturbed outside the fosse at NW. The interior has a SE-facing slope and has vague indications of cultivation ridges running E-W. Monument is visible today as a circular-shaped earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 12 February 2019

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.