Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a low knoll, which provides good views in all directions, especially over the SW shoreline of Killala Bay, which is c. 100m W, with the Ross peninsula visible to NE and Bartra Island dominating the view to E−SE. To NW there is an expanse of lowlying wet pasture.
This rath is named ‘Rathmore’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch map. It consists of a slightly raised, circular area (18m E–W; 16.8m N–S) defined by a bank (Wth 2.1m; int. H 0.45m; ext. H 0.85m, at SE). Stones protrude from the top and inner face of the bank. The bank appears to be reduced to a scarp At N–NW, but this area is covered in overgrowth and difficult to examine. There is a break (Wth 1m) in the bank at SE and another (Wth c. 3m) at S. The interior appears to be somewhat higher at NW–N, and a slight slope down to S is apparent in the E half.
Remnants of a field fence skirt the rath SE–SW, and another defunct field fence abuts the bank at NE. The contours of the knoll appear to be scarped to N-NE of the rath.
The E half of the rath is grass-covered but dense overgrowth (gorse, brambles) obscure the W half, impeding examination.
There is a rath (MA015-051----) located c. 100m to SE and another (MA015-052----) c. 100m to SSW. Two other raths (MA015-053----; MA015-054----) are visible c. 400m to SE.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 6 December 2018