Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In reclaimed grassland, Ballingarry church and graveyard (LI049-107001-/002-) lie 135m to E. In 1840 the Ordnance Survey recorded this monument as a flat moat 23 paces in diameter at the top and about 10ft. [3m] above the level of the field’ (OSL, Vol. 1, 211). Depicted on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a raised oval-shaped platform(dims. c. 25m N-S; 20m E-W) defined by a scarp, with fosse from S-W-NW. Recorded by Leask in 1938 (NMI topographical files) as a ‘flat topped fort 55 ft [16.76m], with site of a house 20’ [6.09m] x 9’ [2.74m]. Fosse toward the S’. Described by Hunt (1951, 73) as a ‘raised platform ringfort with fosse and Norman house site on top’. Excavated by Hunt in 1949, who summarised his results as following; ‘This year’s work gave additional confirmation that the structure was not, as its shape suggested, a Norman erection. Evidence of a number of superimposed buildings was found, and the several phases of the growth of the Down from a simple ringfort with low bank to its present Motte-like form, were traced. Section of the ground plans of several houses were revealed pointing to an intensive habitation from Early Christian times, and the former existence of a second and outer fosse was shown. A noteworthy feature of the excavation was the remarkable state of preservation of much of the organic material found' (Hunt 1951, 71-6). Earthwork visible as a raised oval-shaped platform defined by a fosse on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages.

See attached Google Earth orthoimages.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 3 November 2021

References

OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

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

Fitzgerald, M.J. 1953 Notes on the land-grant of John, lord of Ireland, to the Cistercians of Mainister an Enaigh (De Magio), Co. Limerick. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 58, 22-5.

Hunt, J. 1951 Notes on Archaeological Excavations, 1950, Ballingarry. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland 81, 71-76.

NMI file - Topographical files of the National Museum of Ireland. Unpublished