Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a level area at the SW end of the top of a low ridge. The slope falls away steeply to S and W into a shallow valley of damp pasture through which a stream flows, 170m to W. There are good views along the course of the stream. Ground rises to NE along the spine of the ridge towards another rath (MA071-056----) which is 140m to ENE. An enclosure (MA071-057----), now destroyed, is locate downslope 250m to SE.
Raised circular area (34.4m N−S; 34.3m E−W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3.5m; int. H 0.8m; ext. H 1.6m, at NW), reduced to a scarp (ext. H 2m at S) at E−S. The bank has a fairly vertically cut external slope –most likely the result of modification in the past to serve as a field boundary. A portion of the scarp (L 16m) at E has been leveled; the original entrance may have been along here, facing the top of the ridge. There is a slight depression (Wth c. 3m) immediately outside the bank/scarp at S, with a slight rise (L 8m; Wth 3.5m) on its outer edge at WSW −these feature may be the remains of a fosse and external bank.
The rath interior is level. There is a possible souterrain (MA071-055001-) in the SE quadrant.
A deep grassed-over depression/quarry pit (20m E−W; c. 12m N−S; D 1.4m) cuts through the NE quadrant, and remnants of a roughly N−S field fence cross the scarp on the E edge of the rath.
The rath is ringed with hawthorn and hazel trees, with grass and thistles in the interior.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 30 July 2021