Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

This monument was reported to the Archaeological Survey of Ireland by Tony Miller on 28th January 2013. He describes it as follows: "this is a possible rath, situated on a level terrace on a south facing slope overlooking the village of Ballingeary and Lough Allua. To the north the land slopes up towards the ridge at Rathgaskig. It was shown to me by two inhabitants of the townland who said that the older locals had told them that there was a tradition of a ringfort somewhere in this area. This is depicted on the two editions of the OS 6”maps as a distinctive circular enclosure but without hachuring. The circular feature is still intact but is of two distinct halves, separated by entranceways to the east and west. The southern half is made of a broad earthen bank faced with stones on both sides. It is c. 1.7m in height and c. 2.4m in width and heavily overgrown with briars. The northern half, however, is different and consists of a well-built stone wall of traditional style, lower in height and much narrower. The internal diameter of the site is c. 16m. It does look like the southern portion is the remains of a ringfort that was partially levelled and then the northern half rebuilt at a later date to recreate a circular enclosure."

Compiled by: Denis Power

Date of upload: 29 January 2013