This prehistoric site, measuring approximately 100 to 110 metres in diameter, was first spotted through aerial photography in 1992, revealing itself as a distinctive cropmark pattern where the original bank and external ditch once stood. The enclosure’s most intriguing feature sits at its heart; a smaller circular structure that archaeologists believe could be either a ring-ditch or the foundations of an ancient dwelling.

Whilst centuries of agricultural activity have largely plough-levelled the site, patient observers can still make out subtle earthworks in the north-western and western segments where the original features have survived the test of time. Two modern field boundaries now slice through the enclosure, creating an inadvertent cross-section through this piece of Ireland’s prehistoric past. The site’s elevated position on the hilltop summit would have offered commanding views of the surrounding landscape, suggesting it held strategic importance for its ancient inhabitants.

The enclosure continues to reveal its secrets through modern technology, appearing clearly in Ordnance Survey Ireland aerial images from 2005. These photographs, alongside the original 1992 aerial survey, have proven invaluable in understanding the site’s layout and preservation. Though much of its physical presence has been softened by time and agriculture, the hillfort at Kilriffin remains an important archaeological feature, offering glimpses into how our ancestors shaped and inhabited the Irish landscape thousands of years ago.