Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Mid way along a N-facing slope in pasture, with a small fold in the hillslope just to the E. Hachured on the OS 25-inch plan (1897) and Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). This large poorly preserved bivallate rath (int. diams. 38.8m NW-SE; 29.6m NE-SW; ext. dims. 54.7m NW-SE; 51.7m NE-SW) is defined by an inner bank, an outer bank and an intervening fosse. The degraded inner earthen bank (Wth c. 3.1-3.5m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.3-0.8m) is only traceable from SW-NW-NNE. Possible facing-stones protrude from the bank’s centre from SE-SW; these slabs (max. dims. L 0.8m; Wth 0.4m; H 0.5m over bank) are set on edge, and are non-contiguous probably due to damage. The inner bank is non-extant from NNE-E-SW, except for a possible spoil mound at SE. The fosse (Wth 5-8m) is generally flat but at the NW there is a distinct berm (Wth 1.7m) on its inner edge – the outer edge of the inner bank - and then a slight dip forming the fosse (Wth c. 3m). The outer bank (Wth 2-4m; int. H 0.3-0.8m; ext. H 0.3-0.6m) is also composed of earth, but is very degraded with possible inner/outer facing-stones visible protruding from the bank’s centre from ENE-S-W. There is an entrance (Wth 1.8m) at the ENE, now used by machinery. Some field stones (max. dims. L 1.5m; Wth 1m; H 1m) are added to the outer bank fromW-NNE, where there is a probable modern gap (W 2.8m) caused by large field stones being pushed into the fosse area. Within the interior is a low meandering bank (Wth 2.5m; H 0.2-0.4m) of spoil, extending SW from the centre to the inner bank. A ringfort (CL117-127----) lies c. 125m to the SW.

 

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott

 

Date of upload: 29-10-2025