Hillfort in Ballymacmurragh

Located on the summit of a high, steep heather clad hill with good extensive views in mountainous area. Large sub circular area (diam 74m E-W) enclosed by two earthen banks and two outer fosses with a causewayed entrance gap (Wth 4m) at WNW. In the N-W sector of the interior there is a low circular mound (diam 4m; H 0.45m) with trig station on top. This mound may have been built to accommodate the trig station. The inner bank (Wth 1.1m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 1.1m) and outer bank (Wth 3m; ext. H 1m) are best preserved at SE. Intervening fosse (Wth 1m) and external fosse (Wth 0.5m) are also best preserved at this side. To the SW of the site are the possible grass covered remains of a rectangular house site. The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Circular contour fort of approximately 0.8ha enclosed area in commanding position surrounding summit of a steep hilltop at E edge of Slieve Bloom Mountains. Site overlooks a number of tributaries of the Camcor River and is positioned 1.9km to the SW of Cumber Lower hillfort (Atlas No.0696). Bivallate for the entire circuit. Possible original entrance at WNW comprising a simple gap. Possible rectangular hut site at SW of interior. Ramparts survive best at the SE. Interior covered in dense scrub. Commercial forestry plantation abutting enclosing elements to N, E and W. First map depiction in first edition Ordnance survey mapping where the monument is apparent as a circular boundary. Also depicted as a circular boundary in second edition Ordnance Survey maps. Recorded by O'Brien and Sweetman (1997) for the archaeological inventory of Co. Offaly. A series of field boundaries traversing the hillfort interior form the townland boundaries of Ballymacmurragh, Clonlee and Cumber Lower.' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0695.html) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997).

Located on the summit of a high, steep heather clad hill with good extensive views in mountainous area. Large sub circular area (diam 74m E-W) enclosed by two earthen banks and two outer fosses with a causewayed entrance gap (Wth 4m) at WNW. In the N-W sector of the interior there is a low circular mound (diam 4m; H 0.45m) with trig station on top. This mound may have been built to accommodate the trig station.…