Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a stony terrace on the SE-facing slope of a ridge, overlooked at SW by the summit of the ridge. The Trimoge River is 175m to E.
Broadly oval area (32.8m N–S; 24.5m E–W) defined by a degraded stony scarp (H c. 0.55m), merging NE–S with the natural fall of ground, outside which it is enclosed by the remnants of a fosse and outer bank. The scarp is incorporated into a field fence at SW–N. A low stony bank (Wth 1m) is set 2.5-3m in from the edge of the scarp, more or less respecting its curve at N−ENE; this may be a late feature, possibly a field fence.
The fosse (Wth c. 2m; D 0.3m at S) is defined on its outer edge by slight remnants of an outer bank, surviving as dilapidated stony rise (Wth c. 1.7m) incorporated into a field fence and ringed with hazel trees. Another field fence, on a NE–SW axis, crosses the NE edge of the rath.
A stony ramp-like slope (Wth 2.5-3m) on the ESE side of the rath may mark an original entrance. The rath interior slopes down from centre to E–SE; the ground surface is uneven and stony underfoot. There is a souterrain (MA071-143001-), evident as a linear depression, in the W half. A slightly raised sub-circular stony area (diam. c. 6m) of uncertain significance abuts the souterrain depression at NE. The rath is engulfed in a stand of hazel trees.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 13 September 2021