What is recorded here

Fairy fort in Umberstown Great is a circular earthen enclosure at the SW end of an esker ridge, with a broken outer ditch and an east-north-east entrance marked by an old quarry. Its bank still stands about a metre high, though grass and age have softened every edge. The name suggests people once believed the shape belonged to fairies rather than humans, yet the measured walls and dug causeway point to a deliberate human home or stronghold.

Located at the SW end of an esker ridge which extends off to the NE (L c. 50m) and then NW. There is a small SE-NW stream c. 50m to the SW. This is an overgrown circular area (diam. 27.7m NW-SE; 26.2m NE-SW) defined by an earthen bank (Wth of base 3.6-4m; int. H 0.2-0.4m; ext. H 1.1-1.3m) and outer fosse (Wth of top 4.8-5m; ext. D 0.45m) with a slight outer counterscarp bank (Wth of base 1.8-3m; ext. H 0.1-0.2m). The fosse and outer bank are missing NW-N. The original entrance (Wth of base 2.6m) and causeway (Wth of top 2m; H 0.4m) are at ENE but there is an old quarry inside the entrance. 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 Mooer Date of revision: 12 August 2019

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