What is recorded here

Indicated is a half-forgotten ringfort in County Offaly, its earthen bank reduced to a shallow scarp and its boundary blurred by beech trees that may have grown there for centuries. It sits on a slight rise near Emmel House, small enough to walk around in a minute yet old enough to have been mistaken for a fairy fort or a planted garden feature. The field fence cuts through one side, reminding anyone who stands inside that the land has been taken, rearranged, and claimed again. What remained is a circle of soil and shadow, waiting to be seen as either history or hallucination.

Situated on a slight rise in undulating countryside. Raised irregular shaped area (diam. 25m) enclosed by a poorly preserved bank (Wth 2m; ext. H 1m) reduced to a scarp in places with outer fosse (Wth 3m; ext. D 0.6m) at NW only, no evidence of an entrance feature. Field fence intersects outer defences of site at E. Presence of beech trees along perimeter of site and close proximity to Emmel House and its depiction on the current edition of the OS 6-inch map suggest that this may have been a landscape featue such as a tree-ring, may have been a ringfort reused as a tree-ring. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

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