Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Irishtown (rathconrath By.)

Situated on a natural terrace, on the SW side of a prominent hill, in reasonably good pasture, with good views from SW-NW. Standing on the landscaped demesne of Irishtown House which stands 360m to NNW. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as an oval-shaped ringfort enclosed by a bank surrounded by a ring of trees. Ringfort that was modified as a tree-ring in the post-1700 landscaping of the demesne belonging to Irishtown House. Remains consist of an oval shaped area (approx. dims. 48m N-S; c. 45m E-W) defined by the poorly preserved remains of an earth and stone bank which have been reduced to a low scarp that appears to have been modified as a tree-ring. The tree-lined scarp is low and barely visible from NW-SE, yet is slightly higher SE-W and is best preserved for a short portion at W. The profile of the scarp is sharp at E and S and there is stone facing on the external face from W-S and SE which probably represents post-1700 landscaping when the monument was reused as a tree-ring. There is no obvious entrance feature visible. There are faint traces of a shallow, narrow external fosse visible from SSE-W. The interior slopes slightly to S and contains some trees. The remains of a broad, low grass-covered earthen bank located off-centre to NE indicates the possible site of a rectangular hut (WM017-024001-). Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 28 November 2018