Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Cooleagh (cooleagh Par.)

In improved pasture to S and unimproved pasture to N and E; generally level with a slight tilt downslope to E. A multivallate ringfort (TS062-051----) is located c. 40m to NW. A substantial multivallate ringfort comprising of circular area (diam. c. 20m) defined by low bank (overall Wth 8.4m; Wth at top 2.4m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 1.2m), which is breached (Wth 4m) at SSW; a wide, flat-bottomed fosse (overall Wth 11.7; basal Wth 4m; D 1.85m max.); a substantial bank (overall Wth 8.4m; Wth at top 1.5m; int. H 1.85m; ext. H 1.6m) which slopes inwards at top on inner side and is breached (Wth 4m) at SSW and shallow breach (Wth 2m) at WNW; a flat-bottomed fosse (overall Wth 6.3m; basal Wth 2.9m; D 1.6m max.); a low and relatively narrow bank (overall Wth 4.2m; Wth at top 2.3m; int. H 0.7m; ext. H 0.5m) which is breached (Wth 5m) at SSW and is reduced to scarp (Wth 1.2m; H 0.3m) NE-SE where it appears berm-like; a relatively narrow and shallow fosse (overall Wth 5m; basal Wth 2m; max. D 1.15m) which is poorly defined in the E quadrant; a substantial and well preserved outer bank (overall Wth 7.4m; Wth at top 1.4m; int. H 1.6m; ext. H 1.2m), which is flat topped in places except around the NW-arc where the top tilts inwards (Wth 1.7m; H 0.45m), it is breached (Wth 6m) at SSW, and an outer fosse (overall Wth 8.65m; basal Wth 2.4m; D 1.2m max.) which is well preserved from NW-N-SE, shallow in the S quadrant and truncated along its outer edge in the W quadrant by a regional road running N-S. The interior is very uneven, poorly drained and completely covered in dense grasses and yellow flags (H c. 1.8m). There is dense vegetation around the perimeter of the monument. The ringfort was visited by Cahill (1982) in 1975 who noted the 'possibility of internal sub-divisions and/or house site' within the interior. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011