Lougher Fort

On a low rise with land falling to W and NW, in a roughly rectangular, ungrazed area of pasture where several field boundaries converge. Depicted on the 1840 edition of the OS 6-inch map as an oval area (c. 42m NW-SE; c. 38m NE-SW) and named ‘Lougher Fort’. It is incorrectly named ‘site of’ on the OS 25-inch map and 1921 edition of the OS 6-inch map. This monument is traceable as a similar-sized oval area, although it is not possible to measure due to impenetrable overgrowth, primarily across the NE half. It is defined by the remains of an earthen bank (int. H 0.45m; ext. H 0.8m; Wth at top 1m; overall Wth 3.85m) where seen SE-SW and is defined by a scarp (Wth 2m; H 0.9m), where visible SW-W. The enclosing elements are obscured by dense vegetation W-SE. A narrow gap (Wth 1.8m) is evident at SSW. The interior is largely obscured by dense vegetation, except a small portion in the SW sector which extends as a narrow, clear path into the centre. There is no obvious presence of a fosse. The remains of an old field boundary (long axis NW-SE) flank the monument, c. 3.25m to SW and a similar field boundary (long axis c. NE-SW) is seen to the immediate NW. The following images have been uploaded: CL035-063----_01.jpg From SW. General view of monument. CL035-063----_02.jpg From W. Cross-sectional view of bank at S. CL035-063----_03.jpg From S. Cross-sectional view of scarp at W. Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 9 January 2019

Lougher Fort, Ballyblood is a likely early-medieval ringfort, indicated by its position on a low rise and its depiction on the 1840 OS map. Local tradition may associate it with fairy lore, as is common with such sites, though specific folklore is not recorded.