Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

On the crest of a N-S ridge overlooking lower land to the E and W, and slightly higher than the church (KK008-066001-) and graveyard (KK008-066002-) c. 50m to the N. It is described in the OS Letters (1839) as, 'an ancient rath of an eliptical form in the Townland of Bayswell called Raith Chuil Gad, Rath Chuil Gad, i.e., the Rath of the Angle or Recess of the Gads. Its greatest length is from west to east and it is divided by a trench and mound running across in the centre, enclosing the southern end, on which the foundation of a small square stone building [KK008-067001-] is faintly traceable' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 116 (39)). The 1st ed. (1839) 6-inch OS map indicates a lime kiln c. 20m S of the SW angle of the monument and it is likely that the monument itself was quarried into throughout much the 19th century to provide stone for this kiln. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 302), 'The rath was almost entirely destroyed about the year 1890, when it was found to contain great quantities of human bones [KK008-067002-]'. Carrigan (ibid.) suggests that, 'It is probable that it was the site of an ancient "Church of Rath," in use for many centuries till superseded by the present "Church of Rath" about the year 1300'. The monument is largely levelled, with very little visible at ground level at time of inspection.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 24 October 2017

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Kilkenny collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Bray.

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.