Discover Alone, back to main map

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Shanco (fore By.)

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort

What is recorded here

Fairy fort in Shanco, County Meath: a 30m grassy ring with earthen banks, a rounded fosse and faint outer remains on a ridge edge. It stands among fields, not as a showpiece but as a shaped hole in the land, perhaps for dwelling, storage, ritual or boundary marking. Nearby rath and enclosure suggest a busy place, while the fairy name keeps human certainty at a distance.
Located on the S edge of a ridge in an undulating landscape. This is a circular grass-covered area (diam. 30m E-W; c. 28m N-S) that slopes down to the E (H 0.9m). It is defined by an earthen bank (Wth of base 5-6m; int. H 0.2-0.5m; ext. H 0.8-1m) that is incorporated into a field bank NW-NE. This is separated by a complete outer, rounded fosse (Wth of top 5-6m; ext. D 0.3-0.4m) from the remnants of an outer bank (Wth of base 4.5m; ext. H 0.4m) that are visible S-NW. The perimeter is truncated slightly by a N-S relict field bank (Wth of base 4m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 0.9m) and outer drain (Wth of top 6m; ext. D 0.3m) at E. An original entrance is not identified. Rath (ME023-001----) is c. 60m to the N and enclosure (ME023-003----) is c. 150m to the SW. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 27 February 2019

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