Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In a stand of hazel and hawthorn, overlooking the valley of the Owenrevagh River. It is located at the top of an E-facing slope, where ground falls away abruptly before gradually levelling out toward the river bank, 75m to E. The E boundary of the townland coincides with the course of the river. Ballymore Lough, the source of the river, is c. 500m to E
This large rath is difficult to record due the dense growth of hazel and hawthorn throughout. It appears to have been bivallate, with the outer bank adapted to serve as a field fence.
It consists of a slightly raised oval area (32.2m NW−SE; 36m NE−SW) define by a scarp at ENE−WSW; elsewhere the scarp is barely discernible. At ESE−S the scarp (H 3.35m, Wth slope 6m at SE) coincides with, and is enhanced by the steep natural fall of ground. A gap intervenes between the rath scarp and a substantial external bank which arcs around the rath at S−NE. The gap and the bank are likely to represent remnant of an original fosse and external bank, however, there is clear evidence of modification in the modern era. The intervening gap/possible fosse varies in width between 3.5-4.8m at different points around the circuit. The external bank also varies in size and form: it is most substantial on the SW arc (Wth 5.6; int. H 0.8m), where it retains traces of stone facing, and a later field fence merges with its external slope; at W−N it is less substantial (Wth 3m; int. H 0.95; ext. H 0.6-0.7m) and has drystone walling, now largely tumbled, on its inner face, indicating that it was built or modified to serve as a field fence; at N−NNE it expands to 5-6m in width.
The central part of the rath interior is higher, consisting of a fairly level raised area (c. 14n NW−SE; 17n NE−SW), from where there is a gently slope outwards to the perimeter scarp. It seems likely that this is because the rath utilises or encompasses a natural rise. The interior surface is strewn with boulders, large stones and several heaps of small stones.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 10 June 2020