Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Toome (granard By.)

In pasture on the summit of an elongated hill. The ground falls steeply c. 25m to the W into a NW–SE valley. Raised circular area (int. diam. 28m E–W; 26.2m N–S) defined by a well-preserved earthen bank with an external fosse. The bank (Wth 10m at N; 8m at S; int. H 1.8m at N; 1.5m at S; ext. H 3m at N; 2.8m at S) is compact and substantial. The top (Wth 1.5–2m) is slightly flattened from where the sides slope steeply, almost vertically in parts. The fosse (Wth 4m at N; c. 3–3.5m at S; ext. D 1.2m at N) is deeply cut with a broad, flat waterlogged base. From NNW–SE its outer edge is almost vertically cut and there is no trace of an external bank, except possibly for a slight rise flanking the N side of the entrance gap (Wth c. 3m) at ESE. From SE–NW a relatively narrow earthen bank (W 1.2m; int. H 0.9m; ext. H 0.7m at S), with an almost vertical inner face, defines its outer edge. It respects the curve of the rath but at NW and SE appears to merge indistinguishably with field banks that continue beyond the rath. It appears to be a later field bank, though it is possible that it is a modified primary external bank. The interior of the rath slopes down very slightly from W towards the entrance gap. At this gap there is a suggestion of a causeway across the fosse but it is poorly defined. The rath is densely ringed with overgrowth. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 January 2013