Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, prominently sited on top of a N–S ridge, the highest point in the surrounding landscape. There is a pronounced fall of ground to W, dropping to an area of flat terrain; the slope is more gradual on the E side of the ridge. The location provides panoramic views, with a particularly good vista W to Lough Conn.
Raised oval area (c. 33m N–S; c. 25m E–W) defined by a substantial earthen bank, and enclosed by a fosse with an external bank, with a possible second fosse with external bank at SW.
The inner bank (Wth 6m at W, 4.8m at E; int. H 0.2-0.3m; ext. H 2.2m at W, 1.8m at E) has a low internal slope, but has a pronounced external drop. Stones protrude from the top and inner face. The fosse (Wth 4.4m at W, 5m at E) and second bank (Wth 5m; int. H 1.5m at W, 0.7m at E; ext. H 1.8m at W, 1.3m at E) are well defined. Outside the second bank at SW–NW there is a third bank (Wth 3m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.75m), which respects the curve of the rath. It serves now as a field fence, but may be an original third bank of the rath, and the intervening gap (Wth 2.4m) between it and the second bank may represent a second enclosing fosse. There is no evidence of these on the E half of the rath.
A gap (Wth 1.8m) in the inner bank at SE appears to be the original entrance. It corresponds with a shallow section of the fosse and a low section in the external bank.
The banks are densely ringed in hazel and hawthorn trees, and the interior is partly obscured by thickets of overgrowth. Remnants of old field fences radiate outwards for the second bank at SW, NW, N, with slight traces of a levelled fence at SE. There is another rath (MA039-006----) 200m to SE.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 4 September 2019