Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in pasture, in an area of mixed grassland and bog, close to the S boundary of the townland. There is a gentle fall of ground towards the meandering Course River, which is c. 200m to N.
A circular raised area (33.4m E–W; c. 35m N–S) defined by an earthen bank (Wth c. 4m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 1.4m at SW, 1.6m at NE), and enclosed by a fosse (Wth 4m at SW, 3.4-4m at NE) with an external bank (Wth 2.5m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.8m at NE). The inner bank is well preserved at S–SW, but for much of its circuit it is reduced to a scarp retaining only a slight internal rim in parts. The fosse is well defined. There is much stone tumble on the top and slopes of the external bank; this appears to the collapsed remnants of a field wall, which was built on top of the external bank.
The entrance may have been at SE where there is a low area in the inner bank, and a corresponding low area in the external bank, now partly blocked by boulders. The interior is in general level, except for a slightly raised area in the NW quadrant. There is a shallow depression (c. 5m across) at W, marked by a growth of brambles. The interior was used as a children’s burial ground (MA063-001002-).
The perimeter is ringed with hawthorn, ash, beech and sycamore; there is a small stand of mature beech trees in the interior, as well as clumps of blackthorn and brambles.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 6 July 2020