Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

To the S of the summit of an E-W karst ridge in reclaimed pasture, with field banks removed. Hachured and named ‘Lisket’ on the 1840 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps. Described by Westropp (1915, 264) as ‘an earthen fort 135 feet across’ with a platform ‘105 feet across’ with ‘a rampart rarely a foot high, giving the garth a slightly cupped appearance’ and a fosse ‘about 14 feet wide, the platform rising 5 feet above it’.
A raised circular platform (dims. 30.3m E-W; 29.4m N-S; H 1-1.5) defined NW to NE and at S by traces of an earthen bank (at N: Wth 6m; H 0.2m). A ledge (Wth c. 1.5m) has been cut around the perimeter of the mound from E to SW and may be recent. A flat-bottomed fosse (Wth 1.5–3.7m; D 0.3-1m) extends all around. An outer bank is visible from SE to W (Wth 0.9-c. 2.5m; H 0.2-0.3m). Gaps occur at NE (Wth 2.4m) and at ESE (Wth 2.2m) but it is unclear if these are original. There is some evidence of disturbance in the fosse from NW to NE and at NW it has been infilled with stones (Wth 4.1m) to facilitate access. At the outer edge of the fosse at W, stones and the mostly removed foundations of a later wall are visible (L 9m).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 4 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.