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Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Ballyelly

Fairy fort / stone ringfort

What is recorded here

Magic and belief shaped the region, but people built the fort. They cut stone, fitted stone to stone and made a boundary that could be entered, defended and lived inside. The fairy name came later, layering wonder on top of human labour.
On a SSW-facing slope on a ridge in an exposed area and within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL004-016001-). Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). Listed in Bowmer’s (2019, 80) study of rectilinear drystone cashels constructed during the early medieval period. A roughly square cashel (48m NNE-SSW; 44m WNW-ESE) defined by a drystone wall which is best preserved at E and S (Wth 1-1.4m; max. H c. 1m). The wall construction at N and W appears to be later. A hut site (CL004-016034-) lies in the SW corner. The W and E walls continue towards a cashel (CL004-016022-) located 40m to the NNE. The following image has been uploaded: CL004-016021-_01.jpg Aerial view from NW (ASIAP, SMR file) Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 10 August 2022

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

What survives
Recorded monument

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