Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, straddling the rocky break of slope at the top of a SE-facing slope, overlooking a bend in a stream, which is located at the base slope immediately to E−SE.
Oval area (31.5m NE−SW; 20m NW−SE) defined by a stony earthen bank/scarp, and enclosed by a fosse with remnants of an external bank on the SW arc.
The inner bank (Wth 5.4m; int. H 1m at SW, 1.45m at W; ext. H 1.5m at SW, 2.3m at W) incorporates much small angular stones. At NE-SSE the bank is reduced to a scarp (Wth slope 4.5-5m; ext. H 3m) which has a steep external slope, merging with the natural fall of ground. There is much stone tumble on the external slope, and at S it incorporates an area of natural bedrock. On the N arc the external face of the bank is incorporated into a later E−W field fence.
The fosse (Wth 3.5m at SW, 3m at W) and external bank (Wth 4.2m; int. H 0.75m; ext. H 1.3m, at SW) are best preserved on the SW arc. At SW−NW the external bank has been incorporated into or truncated by a later field fence. At NW−NE fosse is evident as a slight depression and the external bank has been levelled. On the E arc the fosse and external bank are barely discernible. There is a break (Wth 3.2m) in the inner bank at NE, now blocked on its outer edge by a later E−W field fence; this may be the location of an original entrance.
The interior is grass-covered, with encroachment of hazel and brambles; the perimeter is densely ringed with hazel, hawthorn and brambles. There is another rath (MA040-034----) 170m to N.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 22 May 2020