Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on the summit of a gently sloping hill. A circular area (32m N-S; 32m E-W) defined by two banks and an intervening fosse. The inner earth and stone bank (Wth 6.4m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 2m) is breached in numerous places. An external berm is visible around the inner bank NW-E. Material from the inner bank at E has slumped down into the intervening fosse (Wth 2.6m). The outer bank (Wth 2.7m; ext. H 1.7m), with a break at N, is composed of similar material to the inner bank. Stone-facing, which appears to be recent, was noted along the E arc of the outer bank. There is a possible causeway entrance (Wth c. 2.5m) at NW and numerous cattle breaks through the inner bank. The interior is convex with a possible souterrain (KE059-016001-) and a possible hut site (KE059-016002-) in the S half. A lane, which was constructed in the late 1990s, skirts the outer bank externally NE-S; the ground level has been lowered here to accommodate the lane. A field boundary skirts the rath along the N arc. A depression (L c. 5m; Wth 4m; D 2m) immediately outside the outer bank at NW is a result of quarrying.

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

Date of upload: 31 January 2011