Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture on a S-facing slope overlooked by higher ground to the N with good views limited at W by a small stand of conifers, c. 15m E of a small stream that forms the townland boundary with Carrownaclogh. Hachured on the 1840 OS 6-inch map and hachured and named ‘Lisroe’ on 1916 edition. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). 

A bivallate rath (36.25m N-S; 34.5m E-W) defined by two banks and an intervening fosse. The steep-sided inner bank (Wth at base 3-5m; ext. H 0.6-1.8m; int. H 0.2-1m) is highest at the W, being reduced to a scarp at the S. Short stretches of drystone walling along the bank at the SW and W may be the remains of an internal revetment. The flat-bottomed fosse (Wth 2.2-4m) is present from SW to SE and has been reduced to a berm from SE to SW (Wth 2-4m). The outer bank (Wth 2-5.5m; int. H 1.4m; ext. H 0.2m) survives from SSW to NNE. Along the NE it has been incorporated into an adjacent field boundary, and it has been reduced to a vague rise to the E and a scarp to the S. A gap in the inner bank at the NW (Wth 4.75m) with a corresponding causeway over the fosse is likely the  original entrance. The interior slopes down to the S and shows traces of cultivation ridges. A NNW-SSE field boundary crosses the W perimeter and conifers are planted to the W of it. Several modern cattle tracks cut across the inner bank while a small shallow depression has been dug into it at the S.

 

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell

 

Date of upload: 22 October 2025