Discover Alone, back to main map

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Scarteen Upper

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort

What is recorded here

Seven-eighths of the fort vanished under the plough, leaving only a stubborn earthen arc to mark the lost circle. The remaining bank rises a metre internally, blocking the overgrown interior where bushes still tangle the forgotten centre. Local memory preserves the shape even when the soil forgot it, transforming a damaged boundary into a living fairy fort.
In pasture, on S-facing slope. Arc formed by earthen bank (int. H 1.2m; ext. H 0.45m) WNW->NE exists on NW side of NE-SW townland boundary. Strong local tradition of fort here; no visible surface trace of rest of circle continuing from existing arc. Bank and interior heavily overgrown with bushes; area of interior inaccessible. Recorded by Bowman (1934, 130) as single-ramparted fort (diam. c. 45yd) on Mrs O'Sullivan's land, with boundary fence running through it, 'cutting off about seven-eights [sic], which portion is now levelled'. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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

What survives
Recorded monument

Places near here

Add to this placeAdd a picture Comment or add a tip

Explore 1,118,481 places