Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ballyhast

Monument surveyed by ASI in 1979 and described as following; 'The sub-circular area (diam. c. 33m E-W) is surrounded by an earth and stone bank and traces of a fosse. The bank is straight sided on the N and W except at the NW corner. There is no clear sign of an original entrance feature. The interior slopes from NW to S. In the NW angle there are the remains of a stone built rectangular house (int. dims. 14.7m NE-SW; 4.5m NW-SE) which is partly placed on top of the N bank. There is an entrance feature on the E and W sides. The plan and foundations indicate a fairly recent post-medieval if not famine type house. To the S of this structure there are the remains of another stone built structure probably contemporary with its E side. This is also on a N/S main axis line and its stone foundations lie partly on the W and S banks of the fort. To the E of the house site against the N bank are some remains of a small stone built wall and in the NE corner placed on top of the bank area the humped remains of a small stone built kiln (lime). The interior is partly strewn with loose stones. Located in low-lying poor grazing land. The foundations of the house can be clearly traced and in the S wall has a width of c. 0.8m’ (SMR File 28/06/1979). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 February 2013