Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Gort An Tsléibhe

In rough pasture, within a network of relict field walls (KE086-001002-) and in an area known locally as 'The Catharachs'. A roughly circular area (20m E-W; 17.4m N-S) defined by the overgrown lower courses of a stone wall (T 2m; H 0.3m). The collapsed wall is well-defined on the inner face along the E arc. An outer and more recent drystone rubble wall (T 0.5m: H c. 1.3m) is built on top of the external circumference of the earlier wall and this encloses a subcircular area (24m E-W; 21.4m N-S). The interior slopes slightly down to the S. There is a mound of loose stones in the N quadrant. There is a gap (Wth 0.6m) in the SE arc of the outer wall. Field boundaries abut the outer wall at NNE, SE, S and SW. A hut site (KE086-001003-) externally abuts the cashel at E. The inner wall may be the remnants of a cathair or stone fort which may be the origin of the name 'Catharachs'. This cashel is clearly visible in an aerial photograph (GSIAP, W 135/134) taken in 1973. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011