Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In undulating pasture, located on a knoll at the E end of an E–W ridge, with good views, especially N–NE over Killala Bay.
This possible rath is not shown on the 1838 and 1929 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a knoll that has been modified and scarped to create a sub-circular area (diam. c. 25m) defined by a scarp (H 0.7-1m; Wth slope c. 1-1.5m) which more or less conforms to the contours of the knoll. At W the scarp has been truncated by, or incorporated into a N–S field fence. Outside the scarp at NW–NE and SE–SW there is a terrace or gap (Wth 1.9m at S, 2.7m at N) which appears to represent the equivalent of a fosse. At NW–NE, the outer edge of the terrace/fosse is defined by a scarp which merges with the steep natural fall of the knoll slope (H 5-6m). At SE–SW the outer edge of the terrace/fosse is topped by a low bank (Wth 2-3m; int. H 0.25m; ext. H 0.9m), the external slope of which coincides with a natural break of slope, and is incorporated into the line of an old scarp/field boundary that continues to E of the enclosure.
In the centre of the interior there is a spine of raised ground with a narrow flat top (c. 5m N–S; c. 12m E–W). There is a pronounced slope down from the central spine for c. 5m to N and S, with a drop in height of c. 0.55m at S and of c. 1.25m at N. At the base of the slope the interior levels out again somewhat, providing a area (Wth 4-5m) of level or, at least, more gently sloping ground, which separates the central spine from the enclosing scarp. An E–W profile through the centre of the enclosure, therefore, appears relatively level, but the N–S profile is sharply hump-backed.
This enclosure is probably a rath, but it is unusual in that the interior area provides little level habitation space.
There is another enclosure (MA022-040----) 50m to NE, and a rath (MA022-041001-) is located on another knoll c. 200m to ENE.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 30 April 2019