Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Ballyvoe (corcomroe By.)

On level ground in rough pasture and limestone pavement, within a local relict field system (CL009-004001-) and a larger multiperiod field system (CL008-109001-). Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as 'Enclosure' in the RMP (1996). This large subcircular cashel (int. dims. 51m NE-SW; 42m NW-SE) is defined by a double-faced drystone wall with a rubble core. It is best preserved at SW where both wall-faces (Wth 1.75m; int. H 0.55m; ext. H 1.3m) survive. Two further step/terrace-like revetments (inner step Wth 0.5m; outer step Wth 1.85m) built against the outer wall-face of this section of the wall may have been added to provide additional support for the wall where the natural slope of the land is steeper. From SW-N a later field wall overlies the outer face of the wall (Wth 2.5-3.2m; int. H 0.15m; ext. H 0.35m), while from N-NE a later, now collapsed, wall overlies it and a small area outside it. From NE-S the outer wall-face (max. ext. H 1m) is visible intermittently; inside it only wall collapse (Wth 3-4m) can be seen. At WSW there is a large upright slab within the wall core, aligned E-W, while at ESE another large upright stone (H 0.9m) is also set within the wall. The interior is partly overgrown and slopes gently to the SW. An enclosure (10.9m NE-SW; 8.2m NW-SE), which is outlined and labelled ‘Sheepfold’ on the 1897 OS 25-inch plan, is built against the inner wall-face at NW. It is defined by a curving grassed-over collapsed stone wall (Wth 1m; H 0.3m) with intermittent wall-facing and an entrance gap (Wth 1.1m) at SE. An area of loose stone rubble and some limestone slabs is visible in the E sector. (Westropp 1905, 357) The following images have been uploaded: CL008-006----_01 View from S CL008-006----_02 Aerial view from WNW Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 18 August 2022