Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Killarechurch

Situated on the top of a gravel ridge, in pasture, with excellent views to N and SSE. Ringfort (WM024-056----) lies c. 150m to S. Monument described in 1971 as an oval-shaped area (dims. 35m N-S; 21.5m E-W) enclosed by a bank, an intervening fosse and an outer bank. There is a well-defined inner bank of earth and stone with the remains of internal stone facing. This is almost reduced to a scarp from SSW-W-WNW and has a slight modern gap at S and at N. A wide, deep fosse is visible all the way around although its outer face is disturbed in places. The fragmentary remains of an outer bank are visible from W-N-E. The fosse and outer bank are missing from SSW-W where a roadside boundary running NW-SE extends across the SW sector of the monument. A gap (Wth at top 8.9m; basal Wth 2.3m) in the inner bank and a causeway (Wth at top 4.3m; basal Wth 6.8m) at E represents the entrance. The upper edge of the causeway is defined either side by a low earthen bank. The outer bank closes across the outer end of the causeway suggesting that it is a later feature. A portion of another bank noted on the outer lip of the fosse at SSE swings away from the monument. A low, fragmentary earth and stone bank (L 4m) with stone facing extends from the inside of the bank at NNE, toward the centre of the interior which probably represents the remains of a hut site (WM024-045001-). Outline of monument clearly visible on oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP BDK032) taken 14/07/1970. See attached plan and profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 August 2019