Rahan Fort

On a natural steep-sided hillock, with a gradual slope on the E side and a stream c. 12m to S. A raised roughly oval area (14m N-S; 16m E-W) defined by a scarp (H 1.6m) along the S, W and N arcs and by a lower scarp along the E arc. The scarp on the W side descends to a small semicircular platform (Wth 6m) which is in turn defined by a scarp (H 0.8m). There is a possible entrance on E side where the hillslope is gradual and the scarp is poorly defined. The interior slopes down to E. There is a holy well (SL034-045----) c. 60m to SE. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008

Rahan Fort, Ardagh is a ringfort, likely dating to the early medieval period, characterized by a raised oval platform surrounded by a scarp. Local tradition associates such forts with the mythical Tuatha Dé Danann or with fairy dwellings, reflecting their enduring presence in Irish folklore.