This earthwork fortress, likely constructed in the late 12th or early 13th century, consists of a raised circular platform surrounded by a defensive ditch and bank. The site would have originally supported timber palisades and buildings, forming a formidable defensive position that commanded views across the surrounding countryside.

The ringwork represents one of the earliest forms of castle building in Ireland, predating the more familiar stone keeps and towers that would follow. These earthen fortifications were quick to construct and proved highly effective during the initial phases of the Anglo-Norman conquest. At Fairyhill, the surviving earthworks remain impressively intact, with the central mound rising several metres above the surrounding land and the encircling ditch still clearly visible despite centuries of erosion and vegetation growth.

Local folklore has long associated the site with supernatural inhabitants, hence the evocative name Fairyhill, though its military origins are unmistakable to archaeological eyes. The castle’s strategic placement and substantial earthworks suggest it played an important role in controlling this part of Clare during the medieval period. Today, visitors can walk the perimeter of the ancient defences and imagine the wooden towers and buildings that once crowned this now peaceful hilltop, offering a tangible connection to Ireland’s complex medieval past.