Two Irish ring-forts destroyed

CONSERVATION GROUP Friends of the Irish Environment has called for the “full weight of the law” to be brought to bear following the complete destruction of two ancient ring forts located in Co Cork.

The group has written to Minister for the Environment John Gormley calling for prosecutions to follow the recent destruction of the two forts in north Co Cork.

The ring forts were located in the townland of Knockacareagh, near Kilmurry, Co Cork.

One was oval and measured almost 60m in an east-west direction, 48m in a north-south direction, and was enclosed by a two-metre high earthen bank.

Archaeologists had found the remains of cultivation ridges crossing its interior.

The other ring-fort was circular and slightly smaller, measuring just more than 33 metres, and was surrounded by a two-metre high earthen ditch. It featured numerous cattle gaps across its bank.

However, both structures have been completely levelled. No above-ground trace remains. All their earthen banks have been removed and filled in.

Further details from the Irish Times (10.8.2010) and Irish Examiner (9.8.2010):

irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0810/1224276470654.html

irishexaminer.com/ireland/inquiry-after-two-ring-forts-destroyed-127349.html#ixzz0x5L9TSYQ