Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture on the summit of Knockaunatarriff (444 ft. OD), 15m E of townland boundary with Mitchelstowndown North. Two mounds (LI041-013002/003-) lie 17m to the SW and a standing stone (LI041-013009-) lies 125m to the NE. Depicted on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map as a raised oval-shaped platform defined by a scarp. Shown on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map a raised roughly D-shaped platform (dims. c. 26m N-S; 29m E-W) defined by a scarp and enclosed by a fosse from SE-S-W-NW.
Earthwork described by Westropp (1917-19, 174) as ‘a small round platform fort, 60 [18m] to 61ft. [18.5m] across, and 5ft. [1.5m] high. Trace of a fosse 12ft. [3.6m] wide gird it to the S. W. and N. There is a trace of an outer ring to the SE.’
In 1960 a survey by Stenberger (1966, 38) listed this earthwork as ‘Site II’ which consisted of a ‘circular platform with a diameter of about 30m and is bordered by a fosse not quite 1m deep.’ Monument visible as a raised circular-shaped area with enclosing fosse from SE-S-W-N-NE on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. The Google Earth orthoimage dated 18/11/2018 shows linear cropmarks running NE-SW which intersect the monument at SE and NE with rectangular earthworks to the N, these may form part of a field system (LI041-013018-).

See attached contour plan of enclosure taken from Stenberger (1966) and Google Earth orthoimages.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 28 July 2021

See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – 318/16 taken on 05/10/2002. 343/20 and 21 on 05/01/2003.

References

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

Westropp, T.J. 1916-19 The Later Pagan Sanctuaries of Co. Limerick. Journal of the North Munster Antiquarian Society 4, 2, 122-48, 157-83.

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.

Stenberger, M. 1966 A ringfort at Raheenamadra, Knocklong, Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 65C, 37-54.