Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In poorly drained upland pasture, on S facing slope of rising ground just below summit of hill, with good extensive views of the surrounding countryside. A level circular area (diam. 31m) defined by a low poorly preserved earthen bank mainly reduced to a scarp (H 0.5m) with waterlogged external fosse (base Wth 3.5m; top Wth 5m; ext. D 0.7m) intersected at S by a field boundary running NE-SW and partial remains of an outer bank (Wth 0.8m; ext. H 0.4m) only visible from NE-E-W. No entrance feature visible. S half of monument is covered in furze bushes making detailed examination of this area impossible. Original entrance feature may be hidden in area covered with furze bushes. Possible entrance feature depicted on OS 25-inch map in ENE quadrant, this area is now covered in furze bushes. The wide flat-bottomed enclosing fosse was waterlogged at time of inspection. The sharp profile of this fosse suggests that this feature has been widened and deepened in the post medieval period. A drainage ditch running N-S intersects the fosse at N which may indicate that the enclosing fosse was deepened and widened when drainage ditches were constructed in the field to the N and S of the ringfort. Linear feature visible on aerial photograph (GSIAP, S 144-5) represents the remains of this drainage ditch. The sharp profile and narrowness of the tree-lined outer bank which is best preserved on the SE side of the monument suggests that this feature may be post-medieval in date. This outer bank may be a later field boundary constructed around the monument in order to enclose it from the surrounding fields. The remains of cultivation ridges aligned SE-NW can be seen running across the centre of the ringfort interior. Cultivation ridges running E-W and a small field system of probable post-medieval date can be seen in the field to the N of the monument. The field system and cultivation ridges in the field to the N and W of the monument are visible on Bing Maps aerial photographs taken in November 2011 (http://binged.it/1Ar57cS). This aerial photograph shows the linear drainage ditch intersecting the external fosse of the ringfort at NNE. A similar drainage ditch forming a sub-triangular shaped field can be seen in the field immediately to the S of the ringfort.

See attached LA024-044----_05.jpg taken from Bing Maps.

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.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revision: 12 December 2014

References

GSIAP - Geological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1973). Geological Survey. Beggars Bush, Haddington Road, Dublin 4.