Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRingfort - rath
- Recorded sizeint. H 2m at E to 2.5m at SW; ext. H 3.6m at E to 4.7m at SW; W 5.5m at N to 7.2m at E
What to look for
- Bank and ditch
- Entrance gap
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
On the N slope of a ridge in a slightly raised area with commanding views except to S and SSW.
Full archaeological record 177 words
On the N slope of a ridge in a slightly raised area with commanding views except to S and SSW. A well-preserved circular rath (int. diam. 37.2 N-S; 37.5m E-W) defined by an impressive steep inner bank (int. H 2m at E to 2.5m at SW; ext. H 3.6m at E to 4.7m at SW; Wth 5.5m at N to 7.2m at E), a flat-bottomed waterlogged fosse (Wth 2m at SW to 5m at N) and an outer bank (int. H 1.4-1.8m; ext. H 0.8m; Wth 4-5m) surviving only along the W and from NW to NE. The inner bank is partly faced with stone internally and has entrance (Wth 1m) at NE with a causeway (Wth 5m) across the fosse. Other breaks occur in the inner bank, notably at NW. Mature trees grow on the outer edge of the internal bank. A later field wall is built on the line of the outer bank at NE for a short stretch. An Rath is a national monument in State care, no. 648. (Westropp 1901, 284; 1915, 249-50)
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Mary Tunney · Updated 27 May 2015. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More ringforts nearby

Ballyallaban ringfort
Ringfort - cashel · Ballyallaban · Clare · 0.7 km away
Cahermacnaghten Stone Fort
Ringfort - cashel · Cahermacnaghten · Clare · 5.6 km away
Caherconnell Stone Fort
Ringfort - cashel · Caherconnell · Clare · 5.6 km away
National MonumentCashlaungar
Ringfort - cashel · Tullycommon · Clare · 10 km away
National MonumentCahercommaun
Ringfort - cashel · Tullycommon · Clare · 10 km away
National MonumentCreggankeel Fort
Ringfort - cashel · Inis Oírr · Galway · 24 km away
Visitors' notes
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Around Ballyallaban ringfort
Other heritage nearby
- Aillwee CaveCave · 0.9 km
- Newtown CastleCastle · 1.7 km
- Rathborney ChurchAncient church · 1.7 km
- Faunarooska, Rathborney, Wedge Tomb Cl. 4Megalithic tomb · 3.9 km
- ToberinneenboyHoly well · 4.3 km
- Poulnabrone dolmenMegalithic tomb · 4.8 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 141 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 25 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 cavesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 promontory fortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Ballyvaughan - Wood LoopWalking Trail · 8.9 km · nearest point 0.6 km
- Fanore Ballyvaughan TrekWalking Trail · 20.9 km · nearest point 1.2 km
- Ballyvaughan - Black Head LoopWalking Trail · 24.1 km · nearest point 4.4 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Gragan's WoodForests · 4.6 km
- BishopsquarterBeaches · 5.4 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- FanoreBeaches · 9.4 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Ballyteigue Nature ReserveNature reserves · 10 km
- Keelhilla, Slieve Carron Nature ReserveNature reserves · 11 km
- Inchiquin HouseHistoric stays · 16 km
Other attractions nearby
- Newtown CastleHistoric Houses and Castle · 1.6 km
- Burren Hill WalksWalking · 2.6 km
- Gleninsheen Wedge TombHistoric Houses and Castle · 2.9 km
- Gordon D'Arcy Guided Burren ToursNature and Wildlife · 2.9 km
What's on nearby
- A TASTE OF CELLISSIMO with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland2026-11-12 · 19 km
- Barna Art Fair2026-11-21 · 18 km · free
- Barna Art Fair2026-11-22 · 18 km · free


