Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

At the W end of a glacial ridge in undulating grassland. This large well-preserved subcircular rath (52.5m E-W; 46.5m N-S) is defined by a scarp, three banks and three intervening fosses. The central scarp is evident throughout. The inner bank is visible from WSW to NNE; elsewhere a scarp forms the enclosing element. The middle bank survives from E to ESE and from WSW to ENE; from ESE to WSW a scarp is visible. The outermost bank survives from NW through E to SW; elsewhere its line is preserved in a curving field boundary. The three fosses are extant all round. There is a well-defined entrance causeway (Wth 12m) at E. A souterrain (GA098-115001-) lies in the W sector of the interior. Knox’s plan (1918a, 78) includes a possible annexe at NW. No visible surface trace of this feature survives. (Westropp 1919, 183-4)

Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG

Date of upload: 12 January 2018

References

Westropp, T.J. 1919a Notes on several forts in Dunkellin and other parts of southern Co. Galway. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 49, 167-86.

Knox, H.T. 1918b The Masonbrook rings and mound and their relation to other similar works. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 10, 71-96.