Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture in an area known locally as Óenach Clochar, 115m E of townland boundary with Mitchelstowndown North. Westropp (1917-19, 67) described the Óenach Clochar as an ancient Celtic landscape and likened it to Tara, Telltown and Brugh na Bóinne in Co. Meath, and nearby Knockainey Hill, Co. Limerick. This ringfort was excavated by Marten Stenberger in 1966 and the remains of a hut site (LI041-013019-), souterrain (LI041-013020-) and burials (LI041-013021-) were uncovered.
Ringfort described by Westropp (1917-19, 67) as a ‘an oval ring platform. It measures 66 feet [20m] north and south to 81 feet [24.6m] east and west, rarely 4 feet [1.2m] high; the fosse is 10 feet [3m] wide and 2 feet 6 inches [0.79m] deep.’ Stenberger (1966, 38) listed this monument as Site I, and was described as consisting of ‘a low circular platform with a low surrounding bank, outside the bank a shallow but clearly distinguishable fosse. The platform rises about 0.75m above the surrounding ground and slopes gently from the centre towards the inner face of the bank on the south side. In the north-west the bank is interrupted by a depression about 4m wide, the original entrance. Outside the entrance the fosse is shallower than elsewhere. The diameter of the fort, including the fosse amounts to roughly 38 to 40m while the platform inside the bank has a diameter of some 25m. The overall diameter to the outer face of the bank is about 30 to 32m.’
Excavations by Sternberger were undertaken in ‘about four-fifths of the enclosure, and in addition, three sections were cut through the bank and the fosse to the west, east and south. The top of the bank was also partly examined as well as the entrance through the bank in the north-west’.(ibid.) Excavations revealed the fosse was U-shaped in section, (base Wth 1m; top Wth 3m; ext. D. 1.3-1.5m; int. D 1.9–2.6m). The bank (ext. H. 0.6m-1.1m; base Wth 1.6m) consisted of boulder clay and occasional stone. Excavations in the area of the entrance (Wth 4m) at NW revealed a layer of pebbles ‘paving’ (Wth 2m) which extends into the centre covering an area of 75m².
Excavations in the centre of the interior revealed a possible round hut (diam. 6-7m) with entrance at NW and a hearth (II) with a date of 1430±130 = A.D. 520. A souterrain was revealed in the S abutting the inside of the bank, orientated NNW-SSE (L. int. 9m, H. at S 1.6-1.8m; at N 0.5m). A hearth (III) was revealed during excavation in the S of the souterrain contained finds of a iron leather-scorer, animal bones and bone combs. Radiocarbon dates from postholes at the entrance of the souterrain dated to 1430±130 = AD 520 and 1260±120 = AD 690. Two skeletons were revealed to the NE of the souterrain, orientated NNE-SSW, both had an iron knife blade to the right of the skulls. In the S of the interior excavations revealed at a depth of 0.75m an irregularly oval-shaped hearth (I) (dims. c. 0.3m x 0.8m and 5cm deep) with a date of 1840±110 = A.D. 110. Ringfort clearly visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages.

See attached plan of ringfort taken from Westropp (1917-19), contour plan, sections and photographs taken from Stenberger (1966), and Google Earth orthoimages

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 4 August 2021

References

Westropp, T.J. 1917-19 The Ancient Sanctuaries of Knockainey and Clogher, County Limerick, and Their
Goddesses. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature 34, 47-67.

Westropp, T.J. 1916-19 The later Pagan sanctuaries of Co. Limerick. Journal of the North Munster Antiquarian Society 4, 3, 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.