Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a ridge top, providing very good views. There is a stream at the base of the ridge slope 190m to W.
Roughly circular platform (diam. c. 28m) defined by a bank/scarp, outside which it is enclosed by a fosse with an external bank.
The platform is defined by a scarp (H 1.2m) at N−NE and by a compact gravelly earthen bank (W 3.6m; int. H 1.1m; ext. H 1.6m) at ENE−SW. The bank becomes increasingly low and eroded at SW−N (and largely obscured by overgrowth) and is reduced to a low rise at W−N.
The fosse (Wth 4.3m) and outer bank (Wth 2.3m; int. H 1.1m; ext. H 0.4m) can be traced at S−W. They are cut into rising ground at S, which enhances the depth of the fosse and reduces the external height of the bank. At SW−W the external bank (Wth c. 2m; int. H 0.7m; ext. H 0.9m) incorporates a lot of stone (some of it possibly field clearance). The fosse and external bank are not evident at W−N. At N−SE a field wall replaces the external bank, but respects the curve of the rath. The intervening gap/fosse between the wall and the rath platform expands to a width of 5.9m.
There is an entrance gap (Wth 2m) in the inner bank at ENE, flanked on the S terminal by a large prostrate stone. The interior is largely impenetrable due to dense blackthorn scrub.
Part of the ridge slope immediately to N of the rath appears to have been quarried out and is now engulfed in a thicket of blackthorn. There is a rath (MA071-127----) 175m to N.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 27 August 2021