Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Earlspark, County Galway, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Earlspark
- County
- Galway
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Coordinates
- 53.18449, -8.54291
- SMR number
- GA105-080----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
On a rise in undulating pastureland. This circular rath (diam. 49.6m), in fair condition, is defined
by an inner bank (base Wth 1.9m; Wth across the top 1.25m; int. H 0.95m; ext. H 2.18m), intervening fosse (base Wth 1.9m) and an outer bank (base Wth 4.25m; Wth across the top 0.8m; int. H 1.58m; ext. 0.4m). Traces of internal stone-facing are visible on both banks. There is a causewayed entrance gap at E. A geophysical survey of the site revealed an inner fosse and what may be some buildings in the interior (Beglane 2014, 313-14). Beglane (ibid.) suggests that the rath may have been modified and reused when the high medieval deer park (GA105-236----) was established. Another rath (GA105-081----) lies c. 325m to the SW; there is an enclosure (GA105-208----) c. 95m to the S, a hillfort (GA105-205----) c. 75m to the W and a standing stone (GA105-237----) c. 460m to the SSW. (ASGAP 193:36A)
Compiled by: Olive Alcock
Date of upload: 15 October 2020
References
ASGAP - Archaeological Survey Galway Aerial Photograph.
Beglane, F. 2014 Theatre of power: the Anglo-Norman park at Earlspark, Co Galway, Ireland. Medieval Archaeology 58, 307-17.
Nearby in the register
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Hilltop enclosureunder 1 mi
- Hut siteunder 1 mi
- House - indeterminate dateunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.