Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In level pasture, c. 85m E of the Killarney-Currow road. A circular area (40m N-S) defined by two earthen banks and an intervening fosse. The inner bank (int. H 1m; ext. H 2.6m) is most substantial along the SE arc where it is stone faced internally. Elsewhere, the inner face of the bank survives more as a gentle slope down to the interior. The intervening fosse (Wth 4m) is visible all round. The outer bank (Wth 4m; ext. H 0.95m) is visible N-S and may be incorporated into a field boundary, covered by overgrowth, W-N. Possible stone-facing on the outer bank along the NE arc may be associated with an E-W field boundary which extends from the bank at E. There is a causeway entrance (Wth 2.8m) at S. There is also a cattle gap through the outer bank at NE and a less-pronounced gap through the inner bank at NE. In the concave interior, which is covered with overgrowth around its internal perimeter, are the remains of N-S cultivation ridges. There is a souterrain (KE058-102001-) in the NE quadrant. The presence of a trigonometrical station in this rath was mentioned in the 1840s (OSNB, Aghadoe, no. 1, 39).

Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork.

Date of upload: 31 January 2011