Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a low rise in undulating terrain, with good views. It is located in the SW of Townplots West townland, close to the boundary junction with two other townlands, Rathowen East and Castlereagh.
Raised circular area (23.5m N–S; 24.5m E–W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3.7m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 1.1m, at NNW), and enclosed by a fosse (Wth 2m) and at S–NE by an external bank (Wth 2.4m; int. H 0.45m; ext. H 0.4m). At NE-E the fosse is visible as a slight depression and is barely discernible at E-SE. The original entrance may have been at the E; there is no clearly defined gap in the inner bank, but there is a hint of a causeway (Wth 2.5m) across the fosse.
The interior has an uneven surface, dotted with many small, moss-covered hummocks. The NE quadrant appears to be slightly higher that the rest of the interior.
At N–NE remnants of a field ditch (Wth 1.2m) with associated field bank (Wth 2.2m; H 0.45m) skirt the external bank.
A rath (MA022-002----) is located 145m to W; there is an enclosure (MA022-004----) 90m to NW, a rath (MA022-003----) 100m to NNW, and another rath (MA022-002----) c. 250m to W.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 23 April 2019