Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Cloonalaghan

In lowlying damp pasture, located immediately to W of a stream/drain. Ground rises gradually to E of the stream. This rath is not indicated on the 1838 OS 6-inch map, but is shown on the 1922 edition. It consists of a slightly raised circular area (19.4m E-W; 19.5m N-S) enclosed by an earthen bank. The bank is best preserved on the W half (Wth 4.4m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 1.1m), but is degraded and less substantial at E (Wth 2.3m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 0.5m) where it retains only a low internal lip. The interior slopes down slightly to E, and has an uneven surface, from which clusters of large and medium-sized stone protrude. In the N half of the interior is a slight rise (Wth c. 1m; H 0.1-0.2m) curving W-N-E. The arc (c. 8-10m E-W) is barely discernible and difficult to interpret. Immediately outside the rath at W there is a band (Wth c. 7m) of thick, rushy vegetation, outside which is a broad, slightly raised undulation; it is unclear if these features are indicative of outer enclosing elements. Outside the bank at S is a berm (Wth c. 2m) of slightly sloping ground, bordered by a narrow gully on an E-W axis –probably the remains of a relatively modern drain. There is a possible burnt mound (MA015-075----) 20m to W. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 November 2018