Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Larkhill

In pasture, on top of a knoll which is surrounded by marshy ground E-W. A level oval area (26.7m N-S; 20m E-W) defined by a broad steep scarp (H 2m) S-N with a ramp-like extension (L c. 50m E-W) tapering towards E. The scarp is most pronounced along the S arc where it merges with the broad natural slope of the knoll (H c. 4.5m). A raised oval area (Wth 4m), flanked to E and W by natural depressions, projects northwards from the NE end of the extension. The base of the knoll is defined by a steep scarp separating it from the surrounding marshy ground. There is a Man-made underground passage (SL019-16002-) in the S half of the interior. Described by O'Rorke (1878, 275-6) as '...a beautiful sod fort, with three lines of circumvallation, the innermost circle being ten yards[9.14m] in diameter, the next thirty-two [29.26m], and the outer one sixty [54.86m]'. Indicated on the 1838 OS 6-inch map as an embanked circular area with a trackway leading to it from S and on the 1913 OS 6-inch map only by an arc of hachures S-NNW. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008