Ballylanders fort facts for kids
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Ráth Bhaile an Londraigh
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 Location in Ireland
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| Location | Ballylanders, County Limerick, Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 52°22′51″N 8°21′09″W / 52.380703°N 8.352385°W |
| Altitude | 134 m (440 ft) |
| Type | ringfort |
| Diameter | 39 m (128 ft) |
| History | |
| Material | earth |
| Periods | Bronze or Iron Age (c. 2400 BC – AD 400) |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | private |
| Official name | Ballylanders |
| Reference no. | 625 |
Ballylanders fort is an ancient site in County Limerick, Ireland. It is a type of old settlement called a ringfort, also known as a rath. This fort is so important that it has been named a National Monument of Ireland.
Ringforts were common homes and farms in Ireland many centuries ago. They were built to protect families and their animals.
Where is Ballylanders Fort Located?
Ballylanders fort is found about 1 kilometer (or 1,100 yards) north of the small town of Ballylanders. This area is in the beautiful countryside of County Limerick.
What Does Ballylanders Fort Look Like?
Ballylanders fort is a type of ringfort called a "univallate" rath. This means it has one main protective bank or wall around it. If you look closely, especially from above, you can see signs of two more outer rings. These show up as "cropmarks," which are patterns in fields where crops grow differently because of things buried underground.
Near the fort, there are also remains of a fulacht fiadh. This is an ancient cooking site that people used a very long time ago. They would heat stones in a fire and then drop them into a water-filled pit to boil water for cooking or bathing.
When Was Ballylanders Fort Built?
This ancient fort dates back to the Bronze Age or Iron Age. This means it was built sometime between 2400 BC and AD 400. Imagine people living here thousands of years ago, building these forts for their homes and safety!
