Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ballyhehan

On a gentle S-facing slope just off the crest of a low rise in improved and otherwise extensively cleared pastureland. Hachured on the 1842 and 1915 eds. of the OS 6-inch maps. A large circular rath (int. dims. 37.7m N–S, face to face; 36.3m E–W crest to crest) defined by a generally narrow round-topped earthen bank (Wth at base 4.6–9.3m; Wth of top 0.8–3.6m; int. H 0.5–1m; ext. H from base of fosse 1.6–1.8m) with internal and external stone facing (max. H 0.4m) and an outer fosse. The outer fosse is wide but shallow (Wth from base of inner bank to ext. crest 2.9m; D 0.4m) and survives from W to SSE. Between SSE, S and W its external limits are denuded by tractor passage. A gap at SE (Wth 4.3m) may be an enlarged original entrance but tractor passage has denuded any trace of a corresponding causeway. A second gap at SW (Wth 3.8m) appears to be later and may be associated with a later building (int. dims. 4m N–S; 2m E–W) and drain which are dug into the enclosing bank at S. This building is defined by a grassed-over stone wall (Wth 0.7m; H 0.6m) on its W, N and E sides and uses the ringfort bank on the S. A gap (Wth 0.6m) at its NW corner is probably its original entrance. The drain (Wth 1.2m; D 0.6m) runs W from the building with spoil thrown up on its N side. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 28 April 2021

A large circular earthen ringfort in Ballyhehan, likely dating to the early medieval period, as indicated by its appearance on 19th-century Ordnance Survey maps and its typical construction. Local tradition refers to it as a "fairy fort," reflecting the common Irish folklore associating such sites with supernatural or otherworldly beings.