Cliff-edge fort in Ballyryan

At the top of a cliff, with land immediately to NW falling steeply to the sea, at a prominent and widely visible location in an area of karstic outcrop and rough pasture within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL008-109001-). Partly indicated on the 1897 OS 25-inch plan and the 1920 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. This D-shaped cliff-edge fort (int. dims. 38.5m NW-SE; 24m NW-SE) is defined at the NW by the uneven cliff edge. From NE to SW the fort is enclosed by a double-faced stone wall (Wth 2.75-3.1m; Wth including tumble 6.5m; int. H 1.45-2m; ext. H 0.75-2m) with random coursing and a rubble core. At either end of this wall (i.e., where it meets the cliff edge) it peters out into rubble. The entrance (Wth 2.1m) lies at the E, its S jamb comprising a single large upright slab. The entrance is blocked by a later loose stone wall. The interior is level, strewn with rubble and sea-rocks. In the SE interior there is a house site (CL008-124002-), built against the inner wall-face. Further to the S against this wall are two heaps of rubble. Abutting the exterior at the SSW and SSE are several small irregular enclosures lined by grass-covered walls; these may be later sheepfolds. A later rectangular drystone animal pen (5m NW-SE; 2m NW-SE) is built against the outer wall-face at the SE. Grassed-covered field walls extend SE from the fort exterior at the SSW and E. The following image has been uploaded: CL008-124001-_01.jpg View from SE Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of revision: 24 April 2023