Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on S-facing slope, overlooking Toon River valley to SE. Circular area (47.6m N-S; 45.3m E-W) enclosed by earthen bank (int. H 2.25m) with external fosse (max. D 0.8m). Causewayed entrance (Wth 5m) to SE; stone facing at sides continues along inner bank face to N and S for 1m and 2m respectively. Fosse infilled in most parts but outline still visible. Undulation inside and concentric with bank survives SSE->NW. Off-centre to NE is rectangular feature (15m N-S; 12m E-W), open on E side, defined elsewhere by low bank with some upright stones as internal facing; gap at NW corner and on S side (Wth 2m). Murphy (1898, 11) records 'a very large fort with a double embankment encircling it'; field boundary encircling line of outer fosse on 1904 OS 6-inch map and surviving on 1938 OS 6-inch map from W->E appears to have incorporated remains of outer bank. Standing stone (CO070-075----) in same field to NE.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009