What is recorded here

Fairy forts are human ringforts misnamed by folklore. This is a real oval rath on a north slope in Lisduff, County Offaly, with two earthen banks, ditches and no visible entrance. It may have held a home, a workshop or a small defensive settlement before people stopped using it and stories took over. The fairy label is a later invention; the earthworks are the fact.

On N facing slope of high ground. Oval shaped enclosure (diam. 38m N-S) enclosed by two earthen banks separated by an intervening fosse (Wth 2.4m; int. D 2m; ext. D 1m) with external fosse (Wth 6m; int. D 2m; ext. D 1m). No evidence of an entrance feature. Inner bank (Wth 3m; int. H 1m) best preserved with E part of outer bank (Wth 4m; ext. H 1.2m) removed. The interior of the site has been used as a vegetable garden in the past. 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

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