Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Gortakilleen, County Limerick, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Gortakilleen
- County
- Limerick
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Rathcallaun , Hachured
- Latest-edition OS map
- Rathcallaun, Hachured (1928)
- Coordinates
- 52.52048, -8.26184
- SMR number
- LI033A001----
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
In pasture, 100m N of County boundary with Tipperary. Annotated ‘Rathcallaun’ on OSi historic maps and depicted on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map as a circular shaped area enclosed by a bank in the NE corner of a field. Shown on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as circular-shaped platform (diam. c. 18m) defined by a scarp, 11m N of a drainage channel running NE-SW. Described in 1960 as a; ‘Smooth-surfaced grassy mound 80 feet [24.3m] in diameter and 18 feet [5.5m] high. Faint traces of wide shallow ditch with wide outer bank on south and east sides. Map name of “Rathcallaun” not known locally’ (O’Dwyer 1958-61, 113; Gortakilleen 49). Monument consisting of a platform defined by a fosse is clearly visible on OSi orthophotograph taken between 2005-12 and on Google Earth orthoimage dated 18/11/2018.
See attached drawing by O’Dwyer and Google Earth orthoimage.
Compiled by: Fiona Rooney
Date of upload: 21 April 2021
References
O'Dwyer, M. 1958-61 A survey of the earthworks in Old Pallasgrean, Co. Limerick. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 8, 69-78, 111-15.
Nearby in the register
- Barrow - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
- Field systemunder 1 mi
- Moated siteunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.