2026:229 - Ballybin, Ashbourne, Meath
County: Meath
Site name: Ballybin, Ashbourne
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a
Licence number: 26E0319
Author: Maeve Mc Cormick
Author/Organisation Address: Archer Heritage Planning, Unit 1, Tenure Business Park, Co Louth A92 K2VF
Site type: Enclosed settlement
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 704911m, N 752130m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.508679, -6.418374
Archaeological test excavation was undertaken from 29–30 April 2026on a site at Ballybin, Ashbourne, Co. Meath. Seven test trenches measuring a total of 790 linear meters were excavated across the site. The presence of an enclosed settlement of early medieval date was identified and confirmed the results of an earlier geophysical survey (26R0062).
The presence of a ringfort was confirmed in Trenches 1, 2 & 7. A cluster of internal features was also recorded. The recorded archaeology is confined to the south-west portion of the site and no archaeology was identified in Trenches 3–6.
Test Excavation confirmed the presence of a ringfort at the site. This is most likely an enclosed settlement of early medieval date. It likely extends over an area of 48m east-west x 42m. The recorded locations of the ditch are as follows:
- T1; 704912, 752129; 68.945m OD
- T2; 704935, 752126; 68.698m OD
- T2; 704902, 752112; 68.612m OD
- T7; 704948, 752109; 68.150m OD
Internal activity has been recorded within the ringfort. No additional archaeological features were recorded within the wider site.