Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On a promontory c. 150m to the NE of a tower house (GA113-124----). This well-preserved but almost completely overgrown bivallate rath is located within a promontory fort (GA113-123----). The latter is defined along its landward side by a substantial earthen bank and external fosse spanning the neck of the promontory. A wide gap halfway along it, with a corresponding causeway over the fosse, marks the entrance. Just inside it, c. 12m to the NE, lies the rath. Circular in plan (diam. 23.3m), it is defined by two banks and an intervening fosse. The entrance, at NE, is flanked by stone revetments on the inner bank. Along the NW and SE sides, where the slopes of the promontory are steep, the outer bank and fosse are absent and there is a narrow berm outside the inner bank. The interior is uneven and rises towards the centre. According to local tradition, there is a souterrain (GA113-123002-) in the W part of it, however, no visible surface trace of it survives. Adjoining the outer bank at SW are two parallel earthen banks (L c. 18m, Wth 3.6m at NE to 4.3m at SW int., H 1.25m int.). These are revetted internally by large stone blocks and the whole structure faces downhill towards the seashore. This may have been a boat shelter or house.

Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG

Date of upload: 4 August 2017