Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Monasteroris

In pasture, on slight rise in undulating countryside. Site now appears as an enclosure (int. diam. 33m N-S) delimited by a much degraded bank with possible traces of a fosse outside it. No entrance way visible. Workshop recently built into S wide of site destroying part of bank and fosse. Modern house extension intersects site at SE. The development site (NGR 26160/23300) is located on the north-west side of Edenderry town in Monasteroris townland. The proposed development (Edenderry Business Park) was for 21 single-storey light industrial/warehouse units with two-storey office areas in three blocks on a greenfield site. A badly denuded ringfort (OF012–002----) is located on the high ground in the southern field along the road frontage. Due to the close proximity of the ringfort, the local authority requested further information based upon excavated test-trenches. A test excavation was undertaken by Eoin Sullivan of Gort Archaeology unde licence No. 07E0383 between 2 and 9 May 2007. The site was assessed on the basis of 27 mechanically excavated trenches systematically located throughout the site of the proposed development. Two of the test-trenches revealed features, one of which was a modern land drain while the other was a small pit contained within the confines of the trench. Due to the presence of the ringfort and the pit it was recommended that all groundworks associated with the development be monitored. The proposed development received full planning permission and the first phase of construction works commenced in November 2007. Between November and December groundworks associated with the site access road, roundabouts, site compound and associated drainage works and attenuation tank were monitored. No features or soils of archaeological significance were encountered on the site. Further groundworks are planned to commence in 2008 (Bennett 2011, 299). The development site is located on the north-west side of Edenderry town in Monasteroris townland. The site was subject to pre-development test excavation (see above) and subsequent monitoring of groundworks associated with the construction of the site access road, associated drainage works and attenuation tank. It is near a ringfort, OF012–002----. The groundworks associated with the first phase of construction of the industrial units took place between 21 and 30 May 2008. Monitoring was carried out as an extension to the excavation licence. The monitoring of Blocks 6 and 7 resulted in the identification of three small isolated features within both the footprint and the vicinity of the perimeter of Block 7. Two of the features appeared to be modern and related to modern/natural burning in the field. The third feature was an irregularly shaped pit and represented in situ burning in the field and was of archaeological significance. The pit was sectioned and measured 0.69m (north–south) by 0.6m. The single fill of the pit consisted of blackened clay containing occasional pieces of charcoal overlying fire-reddened subsoil. No artefacts were identified in the fill or were encountered in the removal of topsoil and there was a general lack of the typical modern wares associated with agricultural fields (Bennett 2011, 299-300). 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. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 10 November 2011