Ballyallaban Ring Fort - Baile Albóin

Ballyallaban ringfort (Irish: Baile Albóin) also known as An Rath is an earthen walled fort surrounded by a ditch. It has an internal diameter of around 100 feet, but extending to 200 feet when the moat is included. Although there are trees now growing on the site it remains visible and is in good condition. The ramparts were built with the earth dug out of the moat, which still fills with water after rain. Estimated to have been constructed in around 2000 BC - 1000 BC. Clearly this had some defensive purpose and was the site of a stronghold. Over 40,000 of such sites have been identified in Ireland but there must have been many more.The fort lies right next to the R480 road just south of the village of Ballyvaughan (Irish: Baile Uí Bheacháin) heading towards Leamaneh Castle.  This is in the Burren (Irish: Boireann) area of County Clare (Irish: Contae an Chláir).

Image: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and attributed to Joseph Mischyshyn / The Burren - R480 - An Rath / CC BY-SA 2.0.