What is recorded here

Lisheen a Thoura is a lost fairy fort in County Cork, Ireland. It appeared on maps as a circular enclosure with trees inside, but local information says a bivallate fort stood there until it was levelled around 1956. No wall or ditch remains visible in the pasture now, though aerial photography still shows the faint shadow of its fosse. The land keeps the shape even when the people stop naming it.

In pasture, on break in N-facing slope. Depicted as hachured circular enclosure on 1842 OS 6-inch map, interior planted with trees; indicated as circular enclosure on 1906 OS 6-inch map, with interior planted; hachured as circular area (diam. c. 20m) enclosed by fosse on 1937 OS 6-inch map. No visible surface trace of site; according to local information, bivallate fort, levelled c. 1956. Fosse of circular enclosure visible as cropmark in aerial photograph (GSIAP, R645). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Lisheen a Thoura, also known as Velvetstown, is a circular fairy fort (ringfort/rath) located in a pastoral setting on a north-facing slope. It is likely of early-medieval origin and has been associated with local folklore involving fairies, as suggested by its name and traditional Irish place-name elements.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.