Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On the E side of the Deen river valley, on the W edge of a terrace where there is a steep drop to a ravine, between the very steep lower valley sides and rolling uplands to the E, in a forest plantation. There are good views to N and S along the valley and W across valley.
Though not indicated on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map or the 1947 revision, a description, plan and profile of this monument was published in 1850-51 (Dunne 1850-51, 246 and opposite 247). Dunne suggested, ‘from the magnitude and strength of its defences, that it was the castellum or dwelling of some chief of the O’Broenains. Its position is very strong. The approach is particularly well calculated for defence; consisting of an inclined plane, which winds round the steepest part of the bank, and is besides commanded throughout its entire course by a platform situated between the inner and outer ramparts’ (ibid. 246). As part of Dunne’s investigation he cut a deep trench, running N-S, across the monument, finding, ‘some human and animal bones, a stone artificially rounded, probably used to bruise corn, and a portion of the bone handle of a knife or dagger (ibid. opposite page 247). Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 163) mentions that the old name of this ‘great fort’ is forgotten but that it could be, ‘Rathomin, or Toimin’s Rath, so often mentioned in O’Brenan documents’.
The monument consists of a central circular platform (max. diam. c. 37m) defined by a low, wide earthen bank (Wth 4m; int. H 0.8m; ext. H c. 3.5m), a fosse (Wth 4m; D 1.5m), a berm (Wth 4m), bank (Wth 2m; int. H 1m; ext. H 1.5m), fosse (Wth 4m) and outer bank (Wth 2m; int. H 1m; ext. H 0.8-1m), except in the W sector where the banks and fosses merge into a series of terraces cut along the hill side. Dunne’s plan depicts a ramp entrance and causeway at S (ibid.). The monument is heavily overgrown by trees. The morphology and strategic location of this monument suggest that it may a ringwork.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 14 November 2018

References

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

Dunne, J. 1850-51 The Fenian traditions of Sliabh-na-mban. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 1, 333-62.