Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on top of a ridge, at the break of slope on the E side where ground falls away in a gently slope towards a stream which is 350m to E. There are excellent views over the surrounding undulating landscape, particular good along the stream valley to E; less extensive to SW where there is gradually rising ground.
Raised circular area (34.5m E−W; 34.4m N−S) defined by remnants of a bank (Wth 4-6m; int. H 1m at W, 0.15m at E; ext. H 1.3m). The bank is best defined on the W arc; elsewhere it is broadly slumped internally. Stones protrude randomly in parts along the top and slope of the bank.
Remnants of an enclosing fosse and outer bank may be preserved in a broad, low terrace (Wth 5m) which curves around the rath at SE−SSW and in a field bank (Wth 1-1.5m; int. H 1.4m; ext. H 0.6m) that curves around the W arc of the rath, with an intervening gap (Wth 2.3m) between it and the rath scarp.
The rath interior has a slight slope down from E of centre towards a gap (Wth 1.4m) in the bank at E, probably an original entrance. There is a sod-covered stone heap (diam. 3.8m; H 0.75m at E, 0.35m at W), most likely a field clearance cairn, in the E half of the interior. According to local information, there is a souterrain (MA071-003001-) in the interior.
There are raths (MA073-002----; MA071-004----) 100m to NW and 200m to SW, respectively.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 24 June 2021