Hillfort

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on top of a hill in upland area. Large circular hillfort covering an area of approx. 14 acres, defined by two widely spaced earth and stone banks with slight inner fosse and wide intervening berm (Wth 45m). The inner bank varies in width and height (ext. H 3.5m) and is reduced to a scarp at S; inner fosse visible from NE to SW. Outer bank also varies in width and height from place to place (avg. Wth 4m; ext. H 4m; int. H 1m) with no evidence of an external fosse. The outer bank is quarried at SE and modern road destroys SW portion of site. The interior of the inner enclosure rises to a low summit following the natural slope of the hill enclosing an area of approx. 1.9 hectares. Inner bank and outer defences of the site are destroyed at SW due to location of the rectory, however the interior gently slopes towards this destroyed bank where the original entrance feature may have been located. No other evidence for an entrance feature visible.
This monument (excluding school & rectory buildings) is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 23/1976).
The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Circular multiple enclosure positioned in upland terrain on gently sloping W facing hillslope, overlooking Fuarawn River to W and S. The site has a total footprint of approximately 4.9ha. Bivallate for the entire circuit with widely spaced enclosing elements. No evidence for any entrance features. No evidence for any internal features on the surface. SW section of inner and outer enclosing elements destroyed. The outer bank is quarried at S. Light tree cover over enclosing elements. First depicted in first edition Ordnance Survey mapping as a circular setting of field boundaries. More detailed earthwork survey in second edition Ordnance Survey maps. Recorded by O'Brien and Sweetman (1997) for the archaeological inventory of Co. Offaly. The outer enclosing elements comprise the townland boundary of Glebe and Ballycurragh.' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0694.html)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 6 February 2020

References

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).

Lock, G. and Ralston, I. 2017 Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland.(Online website at https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk)