Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Rackavra

Situated on a small outcrop, in undulating pasture with extensive views to NW, N and E although restricted to S and SW. Monument described in 1980 as a D-shaped area (dims. 33m NNW-SSW; 24m ESE-WNW) enclosed by an earth and stone bank best preserved where it is highest from NNE-E and poorly preserved where it is low and slight from E-S-W-N-NNE and almost reduced to a scarp. It contains a good deal of stone with some evidence of an external stone facing at SSE. A gap (Wth 2.5m) at SE may represent the original entrance. The interior is uneven and rises gradually from the perimeter to the centre. There is rock outcrop within, although no other features are evident. The interior rises gradually from the perimeter to the centre and is uneven due to outcropping rock. A modern field bank running WNW-ESE flanks the straight side of this D-shaped monument. A second field bank runs along the perimeter from WNW-N. These field banks and others to SE, S and SW have recently been defaced and are partially levelled. A hole has been excavated just outside the perimeter at NW, N and SE, where it is possible that large boulders have been removed. According to a previous field report of 1971, there was a slight fosse visible all around and an outer bank present from NNW-N-NE, however these may have been infilled and levelled respectively in the interim period between the two site visits. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 August 2019