Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, prominently sited at the SE end of a NW–SE ridge, with good views on all directions of the surrounding undulating average to wettish grassland. Overlooks another rath (MA030-012----) located on a low rise c. 150m to the NW. A stream/drain extends to E through the low ground intervening between the two raths.
This bivallate rath consists of a substantially raised, circular area or platform (diam. c. 21m) defined by a high, pronounced scarp (Wth slope 3.7m; ext. H 2.4m), and enclosed by a well-defined fosse (Wth 4.7m) and external bank (Wth 5.8m; int. H 1.55m; ext. H 1m). The outer face of the external bank is steep and broadly sloping, merging with the ridge slope. The bank has suffered disturbance in parts: inner face at N–NE has been partly levelled, a section (L 5m) at S is markedly low and eroded, and the outer edge at SW–NW merges with the stony remnants of a later field bank (Wth c. 2m).
The interior is level, except for a slight slope down from the centre towards a poorly-defined, low area in the scarp at E, which marks an entrance. This gap opens onto the remains of a causeway (Wth c. 4m) across the fosse, leading to the fall of ground at the SE end of the ridge, a natural routeway. There is a concentration of stones in the interior adjacent to the entrance, but it is largely concealed by overgrowth and its significance could not be determined.
The ridge top location has been utilised to enhance the substantial appearance of the rath.
The rath is largely engulfed in hawthorn, blackthorn and brambles.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 12 April 2018