Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In average pasture, prominently sited on a rise, with excellent views in all directions over rolling grassland and expanses of lowlying damp ground. There is a stream/drain c. 175m to E, and another c. 200m to W.

This bivallate rath consists of a circular platform (27m N−S; 23.6m E−W) defined by a substantial earthen scarp (1.5m at W, 1.6m at E; Wth slope 2.5-3m), at the base of which it is encircled by a fosse with remnants of an external bank.
Stone protrudes from the scarp in parts, especially at E and S, possibly the remnants of a stone facing. The fosse is evident as a shallow depression (Wth c. 3.5m) at S−W, becoming more terrace-like at NW; it is truncated by an old quarry pit at NW−N; it is not visible at N−NE, and can be traced as a very slight surface depression at NE−SE.
Remnants of the outer bank are visible at SW−W as a broad low rise (Wth 4.5-5m), with its external slope merging with the natural fall of ground (H c. 2m). A slight hint of the external bank is also evident at E−SE.
The interior slopes down gently from S to N. A very slight surface dip or depression (Wth c. 2m) extends from the scarp at SE into the interior for c. 3m). There is a slump or depression in the N part of the interior, with a slumped and eroded section of the scarp immediately to N of it. A field fence on a N−S axis crosses the rath to E of centre.
The interior is under grass, with hawthorn and blackthorn on scarp at S−SW. There is an old grassed-over quarry pit (diam. 10-12m) c. 10m S of the rath.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 13 August 2021