Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, in a thicket of hazel and blackthorn, located on top of a ridge, utilising the steep fall of ground on the E side, and adjacent to the northern boundary of the townland.
Named ‘Rathmurry’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch map, this rath consists of a slightly raised circular area (24.8m E–W) defined by an earthen scarp (ext. H 0.85m at N), which is poorly defined at W, but merges on the E side with the steep natural fall of the ridge slope. At NW-NE and S–SW remnants of a stone bank or wall can be traced defining the top of the scarp. The wall appears as a low jumble (Wth 2.4m; int. H 0.65m; ext. H 0.4m) of loose stones. At NW contiguous set stones suggest in situ kerb or internal facing. The interior is strewn with loose stone. The outline of a roughly square area (c. 8m NNW–SSE; c. 7.5m ENE–WSW) in the centre of the interior is defined sporadically on E, S, and W by a slight stone bank (Wth 1-1.4m; H 0.2m) consisting of a low jumble of stones. The N end of this feature is not clear. Its S boundary appears to coincide with a break of slope, with the area to S at a slightly lower level.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 1 August 2019