Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located at the base of the E-facing slope of a small ridge. It is overlooked by a larger rath (MA039-074001-) which crowns the top of the ridge 100m to W.
Slightly raised circular area (diam. c. 30m) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 4m; int. H 0.55m; ext. H 1.1m, 1.5m at NNE). The bank is compact and well defined, with a stony top in parts. A number of large stones occurring along the bank appear to be the result of field clearance activity. The rath is built up on the NE−E side, to compensate for a natural fall of ground. A very slight depression is evident outside the bank at S; it may be an indication of an infilled fosse. There is a gap (Wth 1.3m) in the bank at NE, which is roughly faced with stones and may be an original entrance. There is another narrow, eroded break at NW. In the N half of the interior there is a jumbled heap of stones and earth, which cannot be examined closely as it is largely obscured by overgrowth; it may simply be a field clearance heap.
The perimeter is ringed with hazel, and a dense thicket of hazel, blackthorn and brambles obscures much of the interior, with a carpet of moss and bluebells in the clear patches. A main road lies immediately to E of the rath.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 1 April 2020