What is recorded here
Indicated is a stone ringfort on a rock knoll in County Monaghan, where a canalised stream curves thirty metres away to mark the boundary with Co. Armagh. Its oval perimeter combines earth, stone bank, scarp and rock cliff, while a rectangular house site remains inside between exposed rock. The fort still stands as a compact place of human residence, not a forgotten fantasy, though local story may have dressed it as a fairy fort because its shape resists ordinary explanation.
Situated on a knoll of rock outcrop in a low-lying landscape with a valley extending off to the NW. A canalised S-N stream curves around the monument S-E-N c. 30m distant and forms the boundary with Co. Armagh. This is an oval grass and scrub-covered area (dims 39m NNW-SSE; 26m ENE-WSW) with rock outcrop defined by an earth and stone bank (Wth c. 3m) at the base of the outcrop NNW-E-SE, and rising over the ridge SE-SW. The perimeter is provided by a scarp (H 1.9m) SW-W and a rock cliff W-NNW. There is a gap (Wth of base c. 3m) at SE, but the original entrance (Wth of base 2.7m) is probably that at S. In the interior, between exposures of rock outcrop at NE and NW is a rectangular house site (ext. dims 9.7m NW-SE; 5.7m NE-SW) defined by earthen banks (Wth c. 1-1.5m; H c. 0.3m), but the NE side is almost entirely missing.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of revision: 26 February 2018
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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