Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On a hilltop in rough, wet pasture. Hachured on both the first (1842) and Cassini (1920) editions of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). This mostly overgrown but well-preserved circular bivallate rath (int. diams. 43.5m N-S; 44m E-W; ext. dims. 79m E-W; 74m N-S) is defined by a substantial inner bank, a smaller outer bank and an intervening fosse. The steep-sided, round-topped inner bank (Wth 7-12m; int. H 1.15-2m; ext. H 2-3.1m) of earth and some stone has a possible entrance gap (Wth 4.5m at base; 12m at top) at ENE. There are modern livestock gaps at N, S and W. The wet fosse has a consistently flat base (Wth c. 3m at base), while its upper width (4-7m) varies with the profile of the banks inside and outside. The outer bank (Wth c. 2.5m; av. int. H 1.25m; av. ext. H 1m) has been levelled at NE. The damp interior is slightly higher in the centre than the perimeter and shows signs of former cultivation. Later field boundaries radiate off the monument at N, E, S and W.

 

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott

 

Date of upload: 6-10-2025