Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Carrigans Upper

In pasture, on the top of the S-facing slope of a drumlin. A raised circular area (26.5m N-S; 27m E-W) defined by two earthen banks and an intervening fosse. The inner bank (int. H 0.3m; ext. H 2.85m) is evident all round. There is a gentle slope (H 0.35m) from the base of the inner bank into the interior. There is a possible entrance at NW with a break (Wth 5m) in the inner bank, a slight causeway across the fosse and an opposing break (Wth 6.5m) in the outer bank. A second possible entrance occurs at ENE with a break (Wth 6m) in the inner bank, a slight causeway across the fosse and an opposing break (Wth 1.6m) in the outer bank. The intervening fosse (Wth at base 4m) is evident all round. The outer bank (int. H 0.8m; ext. H 0.3m) is evident S-N, with short sections also visible at NNE, E and SE. It is incorporated into a field boundary SE-S. There is a recent gap (Wth 4m) in the outer bank at SW. The interior is level, dry and clear of overgrowth. 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

A fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Carrigans Upper, likely dating to the early medieval period, is characterized by a circular earthwork with two banks and a central fosse. Local folklore associates such sites with the supernatural, often referring to them as dwellings of the fairies or ancient spirits.