Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, prominently sited on top of drumlin bordered by lowlying wet ground at E–SW, in an area of undulating terrain. There are extensive views SW–N. A ridge restricts views at E–SE.
Raised oval area (36m NW–SE; 23.5m NE–SW) defined by a bank (Wth 4m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 1.6m at NW) with a broad external slope, best preserved on the W arc. In parts on the S–SE arc, the inner face of the bank retains only a low stony rim. At NW–ENE, the bank has been modified and incorporated into the line of a later field boundary; here the bank is reduced to a scarp and the external slope is faced with stone. The location of the original entrance not obvious: There is a narrow break (Wth 1m) in the bank at SE, bordered by two large stones on its outer edge, but this has the appearance of a relatively recent break rather than the original entrance; at the ENE there is a low area (Wth c. 1.5m) in the bank, largely concealed by overgrowth. The interior slopes gently down to SE. Two faint parallel linear features extend on a NW–SE axis across the centre of the interior, possibly relict cultivation ridges.
The bank is densely ringed with gorse, with some hawthorn. Interior is grassy. Another rath (MA039-029) is located 240m to N, and there is a fulacht fia (MA039-128----) 90m to SE.
In the SMR (1991) and the RMP (1997) this rath was listed as containing a children’s burial ground (MA039-030002-), however, this may have been an error.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 27 January 2020