Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Corkan

Situated on slight, natural rises in relatively low-lying, wet pasture with ringfort (WM017-052----) approx. 57m to SW. Two ringforts (WM017-041-/042) 148m to NNE and 220m to NE. Monument visible as a pair of conjoined ringforts on Digital Globe aerial photography. Only the S ringfort is depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map where it is shown as a circular-shaped monument. The revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map shows the monument consisting of a circular-shaped platform (approx. diam. 25m) defined by a scarp, fosse and outer bank with adjoining D-shaped enclosure to NE. The D-shaped enclosure consists of a D-shaped platform (approx. dims. 48m NE-SW; 45m NW-SE) with straight side at SW defined by a scarp, fosse and external bank. On this map the monument has the appearance of conjoined ringforts or of a ringfort with D-shaped annexe or bailey area to N. This monument could be the remains of an Anglo-Norman ringwork with D-shaped bailey to NE. the outer enclosing element of the S ringfort also serves as the outer enclosing element of the D-shaped platform which is a feature often found on Anglo-Norman motte and bailey castles. Oblique aerial photographs taken 07/17/1966 shows clearly the outer enclosing element of the D-shaped annexe or bailey area also enclosing the circular shaped ringfort (CUCAP APH003/004). Monument described in 1975 as two ringforts bounded by a complex series of earth and stone banks. The interior of the S ringfort is traversed by post-medieval cultivation ridges. The N ringfort has a complex series of low earth and stone banks running across the interior. A scaled plan of this monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI shows the complex nature of the earthworks associated with the conjoined ringforts. See attached plan of conjoined ringforts surveyed and drawn by the ASI Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 06 December 2018