Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Dromore

Monument surveyed by ASI and described in 1977 as following; ‘A roughly circular enclosure (diam. 52m NW-SE; 36m NE-SW) bounded by a bank of earth and stone with an external fosse and an outer bank of earth and stone. The outer bank is best preserved from the NNW-W-S and it is absent from the N-E-SE. The fosse is best preserved from the NNW-W-S where it is wide and flat-bottomed but it is narrower and shallower from the N-E-SE probably as a result of the outer bank being leveled into it. The inner bank is best preserved on the N and NE and it is fainter elsewhere. Modern field fences run into the fosse on the E and W and the inner bank on the S is incorporated into a field fence. The fosse has been used as a dump for stones on the E and to a lesser extent elsewhere and there is a large pile of stones piled on the outer bank on the WNW. There is a causeway (Wth 3.5m) across the fosse on the NNW with gaps (Wth 5.5m) in both banks at either end of it, this is probably an original entrance. The end of the inner bank on the W side of the entrance has been defaced by recent digging, and its inner edge has been removed along with approx. half of the bank for c. 4m from the entrance. The interior is uneven and it rises from the perimeter towards the centre from the N, NE, E and SE. The W half of the interior is fairly level. No features are visible. The site is on fairly level ground, with pasture to the N, NE, NW and SW, with tillage to the E and SE. The site is overlooked by a large NW-SE ridge to the E with motte (WM032-039---) 190m on the height to the NE. There are good views to the NW, W and S ’ (ASI File 13/09/1977). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 16 February 2013