Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Derrykearn, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Derrykearn
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- NULL
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Coordinates
- 52.94343, -7.39514
- SMR number
- LA023-005----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
A large roughly circular ringfort (diam. 50m), the height of which has been greatly accentuated from W-NE by the lowering of the surrounding field level as a result of quarrying. Remains of the bank (Wth 1.5m, int. H 1.1m) are distinguishable from S-W where its outer face has been heavily scarped. Elsewhere it is heavily overgrown with hawthorn and bushes. The interior is rough and uneven and overgrown with briars and nettles.
Earlier site inspection on the 16/08/1990 describes the site as being situated at the top of a ridge. A circular area defined by a bank (Wth c. 4m, ext. H c. 2.5m, int. H c. 1m) and deep outer fosse (ext. H c. 1m) except at the E. Causewayed entrance (Wth c. 3.5m) at SW.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 17 December 2007
Nearby in the register
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Ecclesiastical enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.