Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Knocklong West, County Limerick, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Knocklong West
- County
- Limerick
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured (1927)
- Coordinates
- 52.43936, -8.42570
- SMR number
- LI040-081----
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 reclaimed pasture 30m SW of earthwork (LI040-082001-). Depicted on the OSi 25-inch map as a raised circular-shaped platform (diam. c. 26m) defined by a scarp with fosse. Westropp (1917-19, 174) described this ringfort as, ‘a marsh fort, a ring, 66 feet (20m) inside; the rampart is 6 feet (1.8m) thick and high, the fosse 12 feet (3.6m) wide and only 2 feet to 3 feet (0.6-0.9m) deep, with an outer ring 3 feet (0.9m) high and 6 feet (1.8m) thick. Windele describes it as,"a motte 13 feet (3.9m) high with a cave in which a dog was lost" ’. Visible as a raised circular-shaped area defined by a scarp with fosse and outer bank on aerial photograph (ASIAP (344) 0, 3) taken 05/01/2003 and on oblique aerial photograph taken 20/07/1968 (CUCAP AVT028). Monument is clearly visible on Google Earth orthoimage dated 19/09/2019 where it is intersected at NW by a field drain running NE-SW.
See attached CUCAP aerial image, (ASIAP (344) 0) and Google Earth orthoimages.
Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick
Date of upload: 10 June 2021
References
CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com
Lenihan, M. 1866 Limerick: its history and antiquities.
ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).
Westropp, T.J. 1917-19 The Earthworks, Traditions, and the Gods of South-Eastern Co. Limerick, Especially from Knocklong to Temair Erann. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature 34, 127-183.
Nearby in the register
- Moated siteunder 1 mi
- Earthworkunder 1 mi
- Barrow - ditch barrowunder 1 mi
- Earthworkunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.