What is recorded here

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ballintue is a fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Ballintue, County Westmeath, Ireland. This slightly raised sub-circular area measures approximately 30 metres from north to south and 32 metres from east to west, enclosed by two poorly preserved earthen banks and an intervening fosse. The inner bank features dry-stone walling on its inner face at the east-southeast, while the outer counterscarp bank is fragmentary. An entrance gap 1.4 metres wide exists in the inner bank at the south, with a corresponding gap in the outer bank and a causeway 4.4 metres wide and 0.3 metres high across the fosse, alongside another possible entrance gap at the east.

Situated on a slight natural rise surrounded by gently undulating grassland. Ringfort (WM011-118----) 380m to SW. Nunnery (WM011-121---) 135m to SE. A slightly raised sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 30m N-S; 32m E-W) enclosed by a two poorly preserved earthen banks and intervening fosse. The inner bank has several disturbance gaps and has dry-stone walling on its inner face at ESE, and the outer counterscarp bank is fragmentary also. There is an entrance gap (Wth 1.4m) in the inner bank at S, a causeway (Wth 4.4m; H 0.3m) across the fosse and corresponding entrance gap (Wth 1.4m) in the outer bank. There is another possible entrance gap at E (Wth 1.4m). The interior rises towards the centre where an ESB pole has been erected, and a low mound which has been partially dug away exposing some small loose stones. Earthworks of uncertain date visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011 to S & N, although the S earthworks may be an extension of the earthworks around castle (WM011-120---). See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 August 2017

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