Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Davidstown

Situated on top of a gentle rise, in undulating pasture, with good views in all directions. A burial (WM018-149----) and ringfort (WM018-031----) are c. 32m and c. 61m to SW, respectively. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork with a field boundary radiating out from W and N. Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork (approx. dims. 56m NE-SW; 40m NW-SE) which is modified by a field boundary from NNE-E-S and abuts a boundary WNW-N. Described in 1970 as an oval-shaped area which is enclosed by a substantial earthen bank and external fosse, with a wide gap (Wth at top 4.5m; basal Wth 2.5m) in the inner bank at SSW which may represent an entrance. The entrance is defined on either side by a large stone set on edge which serves as a revetment to the inner face of the bank. The bank is best preserved from NE-E-S, however the external face has signs of having been steepened. The bank is lower S-W-N-NE, where there are several small disturbance gaps. A wide external fosse is clearly visible from NNE-ENE and from SSE-W-NW. The fosse is almost completely infilled at E and SE. There is a slight modern counterscarp (H 0.6m) outside the fosse at W, where two ESB poles are located. The counterscarp continues from WNW-N, where it is largely obscured by a modern stonewall. The fosse is infilled at SSW and may represent a causeway (overall Wth 5.6m; Wth at top 3.5m; H 0.35m). A modern field boundary intersects the monument at NNE and S. The interior has a gentle SW-facing slope and the E quadrant is slightly higher than the rest. A house site (WM018-030001-) is located within. Monument is visible today as a tree-lined ringfort on Digital Globe aerial photography. See attached sketch plan of monument by the ASI. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 11 January 2019

A fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Davidstown is a likely early-medieval defensive or agricultural site, indicated by its position on a prominent rise and depiction on the 1837 Ordnance Survey map. Local tradition associates such sites with fairy lore, and its proximity to known burial and ringfort sites suggests a broader prehistoric or early Christian landscape.