What is recorded here

Cathair na mBithiúnach is a ruined stone ringfort on a south-facing slope in Ballyganner North, its double wall collapsed into a broad rubble trap that swallows boots and patience alike. The outer face still stands in places, built of large flat stones laid like roof tiles, while two later buttresses brace the northeast curve as if the hill itself kept leaning outward. A wedge tomb sits at the highest point, and another cashel waits seventy-six metres away, suggesting this was never a lonely shelter but a small cluster of lives arranged around sight, defense and memory.

On a slight rise on a S-facing slope, overlooking an E-W valley, in rough pasture and within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-059001-). Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Named ‘Cathair na mBithiúnach’ on Robinson’s map (1977). This subcircular cashel (ext. dims. 36.3m NE-SW; 34.4m NW-SE) is defined by a much-collapsed double-faced stone wall (Wth c. 2.2-2.6m; int. H 0.6-0.9m; ext. H c. 1.5-2.2m). The inner wall-face and the lower part of the outer wall-face are obscured by collapsed rubble (total Wth 7-10m). The outer wall-face is best preserved from SSW to NW and from NNE to SE, and is composed of large horizontally laid stones forming a flush facade. Two stone piers (W pier L 1.5m; Wth 0.8m; E pier L 2.4m; Wth 1.2m), 5m apart, have been built against the it at NE. These appear to be buttresses for supporting the wall and may post-date the occupation of the site. The interior slopes markedly from NW to SE. A wedge tomb (CL009-059077-) is located at the highest point of the NW quadrant. Another cashel (CL009-059079-) lies c. 76m to the NE and an enclosure (CL009-059078-) lies c. 116m to the NNE. (Westropp 1897, 119-120) Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 8 April 2022

A stone ringfort in Ballyganner North, likely dating to the early medieval period, is situated on a slight rise overlooking a valley and is marked on early Ordnance Survey maps. It is associated with local folklore as "Cathair na mB" and is traditionally linked to fairy legend.

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