Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Ballydawley

In pasture, midway on a gentle E-facing slope and abutting the NE edge of an ecclesiastical enclosure (SL020-171003-). A D-shaped area (dims. 21m NE-SW) with a straight SW side (L 26m) defined NW-SE by the remains of a substantial stone wall, covered with overgrowth; the straight side is shared with the adjoining ecclesiastical enclosure (SL020-171003-). Inner and outer stone facing is evident at E giving a total wall width of 3.75m; some outer stone facing is also evident at W and N. Field clearance stones have been piled against the outer face of the enclosing wall NW-ENE as have a couple of large boulders (L 3m; H 2m) at SE. The entrance (Wth 0.8m) is at S where the cashel wall meets that of the adjoining enclosure. Immediately E of the entrance is a short stretch of collapsed wall (L 2.5m). The interior is level and under pasture; the E half is 0.5-2m higher than the surrounding ground while the W half is c. 1m lower than the interior of the adjoining enclosure. Along the W arc the straight cashel wall revets a natural scarp. Along the N and S arcs the cashel wall is topped by a later stone wall. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008