Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture in undulating hilly terrain, located on a rise with a fall of ground to W towards a basin of wet pasture, through which a stream flows.
Roughly circular platform (estimated diam. 35-40m) defined by a scarp (H 2m at E, 3.5m at W; Wth slope c. 4m at E, c. 5–6m at W), enhanced by the natural fall of ground to W. At the external foot of the scarp, it is enclosed by a fosse.
Large stones are visible set in or on the scarp, and stone tumble is evident on the slope. Remnants of stone facing and stone tumble on the scarp at N–SE appear to be largely the result of its incorporation into a later field boundary. The fosse is visible as a slight depression at NE−E and takes the form of a terrace (Wth 5m at S, 4m at W) at S–W, defined by a scarp (ext. H 0.7-0.8m) on its outer edge which utilises and merges with the natural slope. It is overlain at N by a field wall on a roughly E–W axis.
According to local information, there is a souterrain (MA071-147001-) in the centre of the rath interior.
The rath is engulfed in a dense thicket of blackthorn and hawthorn, except for a small, grassy area in E–SE sector. A shallow grassed-over quarry pit abuts the rath at E.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 13 September 2021