Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

A circular area (diam. 40m) defined by a bank (Wth c. 4.5m, int. H c. 0.5m, ext. H c. 1.75m) at W and N and an external shallow fosse at SE and S. Church site (LA034-004001-) and graveyard (LA034-004002-) lie in S half of interior.

Described by Carrigan as 'The church (LA034-004001-) of Ballybuggy was situated on the summit of a low hill, within a round rath 40 yards in diameter and still showing traces of a stone and mortar caiseal along the top of the enclosing earthen rampart. It was about 23 ft. wide internally; its length cannot be determined. All that remains of it now is part of the south side-wall, about 1 ft. in height. There are several well-dressed blocks of limestone scattered about the graveyard (LA034-004002-), one of them being part of the cap of an ogee-headed window divided by a mullion. Part of the graveyard was walled in by the Board of Guardians about 1880. The head-stones are all rude and uninscribed.' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 341-2).

Revisited by Caimin O'Brien on the 03 May 2007. In pasture atop high ground with good views in all directions. Impressive bivallate ringfort (int. diam. 39m N-S; 38m E-W) consisting of a raised interior enclosed by an earth and stone bank (int. H 0.8m; ext. H 2.7m; base Wth 8m; top Wth 1.2m) , fosse (base Wth 1.5m; top Wth 4m; ext. D 0.4m) and external bank (top Wth 1.2m; ext. H 0.4m) part of which has been quarried away on the N side. Wall footings still visible along top of bank of ringfort best visible along NW section of bank of ringfort, these would appear to be the foundations of a stone wall which ran along the top of the bank of the ringfort. Possible stone lined ramped entrance (Wth 3m) at NW. External defences of the ringfort are best preserved on the S side of the ringfort, remains of a quarry along the N side of the ringfort. Church and graveyard (LA034-004001/002-) located within S half of ringfort interior.

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