Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On the SE-facing shoulder of a broad hill in reclaimed pasture with wide views from E to SW. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Labelled ‘Lios Caointe’ on Robinson’s map (1977) – a name deriving from a local tradition of fairy songs being heard here (Westropp 1915, 256). Listed as ‘Ringfort’ in the RMP (1996).
This circular rath (int. dims. 29.3m E-W; 28.4m N-S; ext. dims. 50.3m N-S; 48.8m E-W) is defined by two earthen banks with an intervening berm and fosse. The inner bank (Wth 3.2-4.2m; int. H 0.1-0.3m; ext. H 1.5-1.6m) is traceable from SSW to E. It has been cut away at S, forming a quite straight E-W edge (L 11m; H 0.5-1m). Its outer face is poached from SSW to SW and at N. A narrow berm (Wth c. 1m) is visible around its base of most of its circuit. Outside this lies the generally flat-bottomed fosse (Wth of base 3.4-4.9m). The outer bank (Wth 5m; int. H 0.5-1.5m; ext. H 0.7-1.7m) survives from SE to NW. From NW to NE it is overlaid by a later field wall. It has been quarried out at SSW. The interior slopes slightly to the SE. There is a souterrain (CL009-100002-) in the N half of the interior. A modern gap cuts through both banks at E.

The following image has been uploaded: CL009-100----_01 View of fosse at W, from N

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 27 May 2022

References

Westropp, T.J. 1915 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) in Burren and its south western border, Co. Clare. Part 12: North Western Part. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 5, 45-62, 249-74.

Robinson, T. 1977 (revised 1999) The Burren: a two-inch map of the uplands of north-west Clare. Map scale 1:31680. Roundstone: Folding Landscapes.