It is an oval outline, not quite five metres across at its widest point, defined by a slot trench and a scatter of postholes; the kind of evidence that rewards careful excavation rather than casual observation. Slot trenches of this type held the upright timbers or planks that formed the walls of a prehistoric structure, and the postholes suggest additional internal or external supports. What stood here was modest by any measure, but the fact that it stood at all, and that its footprint has survived in the ground, makes it worth paying attention to.

The site came to light during test-excavation carried out under licence number 06E0799, work that was later reported by Frazer in 2007. The hut measures a maximum of 4.5 metres in diameter and sits to the northeast of the hilltop rather than at its summit, a position that may have offered some shelter from prevailing winds while still keeping the structure close to the high ground. The preliminary interpretation assigns it a prehistoric date, though the record does not narrow this further. Prehistoric in an Irish context can mean anything from the Neolithic period onwards, roughly five thousand years ago, through to the Iron Age, so the hut occupies a wide and somewhat uncertain place in time. The site record was compiled by Christine Baker and uploaded in February 2015.

Balcunnin is not a place that announces itself, and there is nothing visible at ground level that would distinguish this spot from the surrounding landscape without prior knowledge of where to look. The evidence lies in the subsoil, not on the surface. Anyone with a serious interest in the site would do well to consult the excavation licence records through the National Monuments Service before visiting, since the notes offer no detail about landownership or public access. The hilltop setting does at least provide a useful reference point for orientating yourself in the field, and the northeast slope where the hut was located can be identified relative to the summit. The site is subtle almost to the point of invisibility, which is perhaps the most honest thing that can be said about it.