What is recorded here

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Castledown is a fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Castledown, County Westmeath, Ireland. A 1970 description recorded the remains of a much disturbed oval-shaped area measuring forty-seven metres by forty-seven metres, which was almost completely levelled across the northeast half and enclosed by a steep bank from southeast through south to west to north. Traces of an external fosse appeared from southeast through south to west, while the rest was missing where quarrying had badly defaced the ground around the bank base, and the original entrance was not recognisable.

Situated on a prominent rise, in gently undulating pasture, with good views of the surrounding landscape. Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a suboval-shaped earthwork. Monument described in 1970 as the remains of a much disturbed oval-shaped area (dims. 47m NW-SE; 47m NE-SW) which is almost completely levelled across the NE half. It is enclosed by a steep bank from SE-S-W-N which is almost reduced to a scarp. The perimeter is not defined from N-E-SE where the monument levelled. There are traces of an external fosse from SE-S-W and a modern version from W-N. Elsewhere the fosse is missing where the ground around the base of the bank has been badly defaced by quarrying. The original entrance is not recognisable. The interior has a gentle SW-facing slope. A modern bank and trench run SE-NW across the interior, curving to W. There is a large quarry hole within the W quadrant. Monument is clearly visible today as an oval-shaped earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 05 July 2019

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.