Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In wet pasture, 40m N of townland boundary with Crean, with conjoined ringfort (LI031-070001----) to W. Enclosure (LI031-071----) lies 70m to NE, road (LI031-069----) 105m to W, ringfort (LI031-106----) annotated ‘Lisduffnacrean’ lies 345m to SW. Monument annotated ‘Entrenchment’ on 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map. Depicted on this map as raised roughly D-shaped platform (LI031-070001-) with straight sides at E and S with conjoined D-shaped area (dims. c. 50m N-S x 48m E-W) defined by a scarp with fosse and traces of outer bank to E.
Described by Westropp (1920, 374) as follows; ‘on the road from Rathmore to Caherguillamore, and, despite its apparently low site, has pleasant, distant views of Knockfirina, Tory Hill and the Galtees. Its plan consists of an irregular, rather shield-shaped platform to the east, surrounded by a fosse. The western part [LI031-070001-] is cut into a slight “rise” on the northern face, the rest terraced, like its neighbour, 4 to 5 feet [1.2-1.5m] over the low field, and a few feet lower than the rise. The western mound measures 190 feet [58m] across north and south, and 230 feet [70m] east and west. It had a parapet, now quite levelled, on which grow several large hawthorns. It is 110 feet [33.5m] long at its junction with the other wing. I saw no stone facing. The eastern wing is still more irregular, about 180 feet [55m] east and west, and 165 feet [50m] to 200 feet [61m] north and south, with a few bushes on its eastern parapet, and a wet fosse. Outside the north ditch was a bold outer mound, 9 to 12 feet [2.7m – 3.6m] thick and 5 to 7 feet [1.5m – 2.1m] over the fosse. The north cusp is 7 feet [2.1m] high, and well preserved, running into the usual angle between the platforms, and crowded with hawthorns.’
Earthwork described by O’Kelly (1944, 51) as consisting of, ‘two conjoined sub-rectangular enclosures which are bounded only by fosses, which vary between 15’ [4.5m] and 30’ [9m] in width and are about 5’ [1.5m] deep. A common fosse separates the two portions, and if at any time there were banks, no trace of them has survived. The long axis runs N.E-S.W. and measures 475’ [145m] overall. Both portions of the monument are 270’ [82m] wide. The entrance is not recognisable. It is situated in poor low-land.’
The conjoined ringfort is visible as a poorly preserved roughly D-shaped area enclosed by a fosse with linear drain feeding into fosse at NE on OSi orthophotograph taken between 2005-12. and on Google Earth orthoimages.

See attached drawing of conjoined enclosure from Westropp 1919 and Google Earth orthoimages

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 31 March 2020

See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – 307/10 and 11 taken 13/09/2002.

References

Westropp, T.J. 1919 The ancient places of assembly in the counties Limerick and Clare. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 49, 1-24.

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).

Westropp, T.J. 1920 The assembly-place of ´Oenach Cairbre and Síd Asail at Monasteranenagh, County Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 35C, 363-77.

O'Kelly, M.J. 1944 A survey of the antiquities in the barony of Small County, Co. Limerick. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 4, 16-53.