What is recorded here

Ballybaun holds a ruined double ring where human hands first shaped the earth. Grass and time have swallowed most of the stone, but the inner circle still stands about thirty-seven metres across, its southern gap wide enough for a person to walk through uninvited. The outer ridge fades into a low scarp and berm, suggesting the fort was built to be seen as much as defended. Nearby enclosures and a boat-shaped hollow hint that this was never a lonely shelter but a small neighbourhood, now reduced to shadows and rumour.

On an ENE-WSW spur extending from the base of Ballyganner Hill to the NE and within an extensive field system (CL009-059001-). Hachured on the 1840 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). A poorly preserved, grass-covered, bivallate cashel, circular in plan (max. ext. dims. 60m N-S; 60m E-W). The inner enclosure (ext. dims. 37.7m N-S; 37m E-W) is defined by a low grass-covered stone spread (Wth 4-4.8m; ext. H 0.8-1.3m) from S to W. From NW to SE the stone spread is more substantial (Wth 8-9m; ext. H 1.4-2m; int. H 0.4-0.7m). The inner wall-face is visible at NE and E (Wth at base 3-3.3m) and the outer wall-face is generally visible from WNW to ENE and intermittently visible from NE to S. The stones in the wall, where visible are laid horizontally (dims. L c. 1m; Wth 0.5m; H 0.5m). There is an entrance (Wth 2.4m) in the inner wall at the S. The outer enclosing element (Wth 6-8m) comprises a free-standing drystone wall built on the edge of a low scarp (H 0.5m) from ENE to S and a stony scarp (H 1.5m) elsewhere, separated from the inner enclosure by a berm (Wth 6-8m). Outer facing-stones are intermittently visible at the NW and N. A boat-shaped depression (CL016-020041-) S of the centre may have been a Man-made underground passage. An enclosure (CL016-020042-) is located c. 31m to the W and two cashels (CL016-020013- and CL016-020014-) and an enclosure (CL016-020035-)are located c. 100m to the ENE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 21 March 2022

A fairy fort or stone ringfort in Ballybaun is a circular earthwork likely dating to the early medieval period, associated with ancient Irish settlement or ritual use. Local tradition may link it to fairy folklore, as suggested by its name, though specific historical or legendary accounts are not recorded.

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