Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In reclaimed pasture 24m W of the townland boundary with Kilcullane defined by a small S-flowing stream. The monument is located on gently undulating ground at the base of Knockderc Hill 620m SE of St Patrick’s Well, church and graveyard (LI032-063001/002/003/004-). Immediately N of and abutting a rectangular-shaped annexe (LI032-067002-). The site is depicted on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map as a circular-shaped monument. Depicted as a circular-shaped platform or earthwork on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map with outcropping rock in the centre. The enclosure is clearly visible on OSi orthoimages taken 2005-12 and on Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-2013 as a near perfect circle (ext. diam. c. 37.5m).
O’Kelly (1944, 30-1) described the site as an earthwork of Type B consisting of ‘a circular platform with a bank at its edge. It is surrounded by a continuous fosse and the entrance is not recognisable. The maximum height of the bank over the fosse is 5’ [1.52m] and the overall diameter is 120’ [36.58m]. In the NW quadrant of the interior there is a cluster of four flag-like standing stones, all of which are laminate split from a single parent flag by the roots of a bush growing beside them. The stones are 2’6” high [0.76m]’. The site is visible on Google Earth orthoimages taken 25/03/2017; 28/06/2018 and 20/09/2020. The site is likely to be a ringfort, although has characteristics similar to a ditch-barrow monument.

See attached Google Earth orthoimages

Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan

Date of upload: 18 November 2020

See attached ASI aerial photograph ASIAP - 304/29 taken 13/09/2002.

References

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

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.