What is recorded here
Fairy forts are often little more than a shallow trench and a low bank, but that is exactly what makes them dangerous to ordinary sense. This is one of them: a thirty-five-metre circle on flat upland pasture in Killeen, with a one-metre scarp, a two-metre-wide fosse, and a three-metre gap at the east. A field fence now cuts across the northern part, ruining the very thing the ring was made to keep whole. The fairies never needed the fence; they only use the hole it made.
Located on flat pasture land in upland area. Circular area (diam 35m E-W) defined by a scarp (ext. H 1m) and outer fosse (Wth 2m, ext. D 1m) with entrance gap (Wth 3m) at E. Field fence intersects site from NW through N to NE destroying fosse and scarp.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 May 2011
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
Enclosure in Killeen (ballybrit By.)Enclosure · 274 yd
Lissanierin Housefarm house · 707 yd
Enclosure in Loughwheelion OR MoneyaddaEnclosure · 802 yd
Ballinlough Househouse · 995 yd
CastleCastle, tower house · 1.0 mi
Ballybritt CastleCastle, tower house · 1.1 mi
Ballywilliam WoodWood · 1.4 mi
Saint Kieran's WellSpring · 3.4 mi