Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 19.5m N-S, 25.5m E-W
This oval univallate rath is located about 75m E of a cashel (KE045-077001-), on the gentle lower slopes of Mullaghmore mountain, overlooking Castlemaine Harbour to S. The earthen enclosing bank varies in height from .4m internally and 1.5m externally on the downhill side, to .3m externally and 1.1m internally on the uphill side. The 1.75m wide gap at E is probably the original entrance; a less well-defined gap at SSW is probably secondary. During the 19th century, the enclosure was divided into 2 unequal portions by a N-S field wall and another field wall was constructed along the top of the bank in the NE sector. The drystone-built walling which revets the outer edge of the bank at S and SE, between the 2 gaps, may also be related to the incorporation of the enclosure into the modern field boundary system.
Two irregular mounds of grass-covered stones abut the E side of the dividing wall; their origin is not known.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 470. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013