What is recorded here
Ballyganner North holds a rectangular cashel built from large horizontal stones, standing on karst pavement above a ravine since at least 1842. Its double-faced wall encloses a probable corral and an underground passage, suggesting people lived there long before maps marked the stones. The uneven interior and nearby hut sites hint at a busy local landscape where ordinary life moved through stone and shadow.
On karst pavement with patchy grass cover on a gentle S-facing slope with a NW-SE ravine c. 50m to S, within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-059001-). Hachured on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, and indicated on the 1897 OS 25-inch plan and the 1920 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. This rectangular cashel (30m N-S; 28.8m E-W) is defined by a double-faced wall (Wth 1.5m; int. H 0.5-1m; ext. H 1-2m). The wall-faces are composed of large horizontally laid stones (L c. 1m; H 0.2; T 0.5m), the lower courses obscured by a spread of wall rubble (H 0.5-1m; total Wth 6-8m).
Quarrying in the very uneven interior resulted in a shelf of higher ground along the E and N perimeter, defined by a step (H c. 1.5m). At the lowest point of the interior (NE centre) there is a Man-made underground passage (CL009-059106-). A probable corral (11m N-S; 9m E-W) occupies most of the SW quadrant, defined by an insubstantial stone wall.
A hut site and Man-made underground passage (CL009-059052- and CL009-059053-) lie c. 55m to the NW and Cahernaspeekee cashel (CL009-059054-) lies c. 89m to the NNW. An enclosure (CL009-178----) lies c. 108m to the N and a cairn (CL009-059059-) lies c. 40m to the ESE.
Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott
Date of upload: 15 February 2022
A fairy fort / stone ringfort in Ballyganner North is a circular earthen or stone enclosure typical of early-medieval Ireland, likely dating to between the 5th and 10th centuries. The site is associated with local folklore of fairy activity, common to many such forts, and was mapped in the 19th century, indicating long-standing recognition of its significance.
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
CahernaspeekeeFairy fort / stone ringfort · 135 yd
Ancient DwellingFairy fort / stone ringfort · 270 yd
Ballyganner Castle (in ruins)Castle, tower house · 1225 yd
Saint Mochua's Catholic Churchchurch/chapel · 1411 yd
Cave of the Wild HorsesCave · 2.2 mi
High CrossHeritage attraction · 2.3 mi
Burren Centre KilfenoraVisitor information · 2.3 mi
Poulnabrone - Burren GeositeVisitor information · 3.0 mi
Fergus River CaveCave · 3.1 mi