Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Just S of the summit of a hill in gently rolling pastureland. Known as the 'Rath of Feerwore', this monument was excavated by Knox (1916c, 191-3) and Raftery (1944, 23-52). Prior to excavation it consisted of a circular enclosure (diam. 28.5m) defined by an earthen bank with an entrance at SE flanked by two upright boulders (Raftery ibid., 24). The excavations revealed the presence of an outer rock-cut fosse and structural remains included a number of hearths, pits and post-holes, as well as three burials (see GA097-150004-) (ibid. 28, 30-31, 46-9). The monument proved to be a multi-period site ranging in date from the Early Iron Age to the Early Christian period. Apart from a low scarp at E and an area of dense thistle growth, no visible surface trace of it survives. A standing stone (GA097-150002-) lies c. 60m to the NNW. Two other possible standing stones (GA097-150005-) and the ‘Turoe Stone’ (GA097-150006-) are also associated. (Cody 1989, 219-35, no. 65)

Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG

Date of upload: 2 August 2018

References

Cody, E. 1989 An archaeological survey of the barony of Athenry, Co. Galway. Unpublished MA thesis, University College Galway.

Knox, H.T. 1915-16 The Turoe Stone and the Rath of Feewore. Journal of the Galway Archaeologial and Historical Society, 9, 191-3.

Raftery, J. 1944d The Turoe stone and the rath of Feerwore. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 74, 23-52.