Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a broad terrace on an E–W ridge. There is a break of slope 30m to N of the rath, from where ground falls away steeply.
Raised circular area (30.4m E–W; 31m N–S) defined by an earthen bank with an external fosse. The bank (Wth c. 4m; int. H 0.7m; ext. H 1.6m, at E) is most substantial on the E half of the rath; on the W half it retains only a low internal rim and is reduced to a scarp in parts. The fosse (Wth 3-3.5m; D 0.4m) can be traced SW–N as a shallow depression; it is not evident on the E half of the rath, and at S–SSW it is overlain by a field fence bordering a WNW–ESE road. Outside the fosse at W there is a slight rise (Wth 1.4m), marked by longer grass growth, which may indicate a counterscarp or external bank. There is a gap (Wth 2.4m) in the bank at NNE, possibly indicating the original entrance. In the N half of the interior, a low but distinct scarp (H 0.55), on a NNE–SSW axis, extends for 13m from the bank at NNE towards the centre. It defines the E side of slightly raised area (c. 10-13m NNE−SSW; c. 9m WSW–ESE) in the NW quadrant. At W close to the inner face of the bank, there is a shallow roughly circular pit or depression (3m N–S; 2m E–W; D 0.3m). Hawthorn, blackthorn and brambles ring the rath perimeter. Another rath (MA015-046----) is located 175m to ENE.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 6 December 2018