Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough pasture, in S of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Ringfort 4, Southern Group' which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), the middle earthwork of three conjoined ringforts (LI048-034027/016/041-). Excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 101-104) between 1934-5, the results of which were described by as follows; ‘This ringfort, lying between Nos. 3 [LI048-034027-] and 5 [LI048-034016-], is crossed by a modern earth and stone fence which passes through the entrance of the Enclosure. The part of the ring-fort to the north of the fence had suffered much more damage than that on the south and, while the banks and fosses were well marked in the latter portion, those on the north were very denuded as in the case of the forts we have already dealt with. The portion south of the fence was also particularly uneven of surface as compared with any of the other ring-forts and excavation proved that this unevenness was due to the existence of a large and complex souterrain, the greater part of the roof of which had collapsed, so causing a subsidence. When the turf was removed from the interior of this fort we found an accumulation of humified soil, charcoal and loose stones such as might come from dry-stone walls. Most of the loose stones were obviously collapsed, others were still in position representing the lower courses of walls, while many left one in doubt as to whether they were part of a sensible design or not. We tried to plot all the stones that appeared still to form the remains of the buildings and these will be found on the plan. At the centre of the fort was a hearth somewhat similar to that in Fort No. 2 [LI048-034026-]. A few feet north of this hearth and running eastwards was a series of flat stones which evidently formed the base of a wall that, near the eastern rampart of the fort, formed an approximate right angle by turning south-wards. This latter portion of the wall, however, was of uneven stonework and not of slabs as was the northern arm. Its line was continued by another wall on a lower level which formed the one wall of the approach to the souterrain. The approach led from the centre of the fort and was cut from the solid rock in which were a series of six post-holes (A to F on plan) which gave evidence of a timber structure leading to the souterrain proper, while the walls already referred to suggested an overground building associated with the souterrain. Several post-holes were found between the hearth at the centre of the fort and the southern part of the souterrain as well as some further portions of walls, but no complete house could be traced. The entrance to the ring-fort had evidently existed where the modern fence crosses the fosse on the western side but excavation at this point revealed that no causeway across the fosse had existed here and approach must have been as in the case of Ring-Fort No. 1 [LI048-034025-], by means of a wooden gangway’. Ringfort is subject to Preservation Order 34 (23/01/1935). Visible as a circular shaped area defined by a fosse bisected by a post-1700 field boundary running E-W on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages.

See attached plans and photos taken from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 31 August 2021

References

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.

Ó Ríordáin, S.P. 1940 Excavations at Cush, Co. Limerick (1934 and 1935). Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 45, 83-181.

Westropp, T.J. 1918 Temair Erann, an Ancient Cemetery of the Ernai on Slievereagh, County Limerick. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland, 111-20.

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.