Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a ridge at the break of slope on the E side, overlooking a flat valley of wet pasture beyond which a parallel ridge rises.
Slightly raised circular area (35.5m N−S; 34m E−W) defined at S−NNE by an earthen bank and at NE−SE by a substantial scarp enhanced by the natural fall of ground. A fosse is indicated outside the scarp at SE−W on the 1931 OS 6-inch maps, but this is no longer clearly defined on the ground.
The bank (Wth 5m; 3.5m at NNE; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 1.3m at W, 1.1m at NNE) is rather low, with a broad slump, especially at W. In parts, it rises to a narrow peak at top, giving it an almost triangular profile. Stones protrude from the sod along its top. A semicircular portion (12m NE−SW; 6m NW−SE) of the scarp and interior has been quarried out at SE. Immediately outside the scarp at E−SE there is a narrow terrace defined on its outer edge by a low scarp (H 0.8m) –this might be the remnant of a field boundary or possibly of an original outer enclosing element. A gap (Wth 4m) intervenes between the rath and remnants of a curving field fence which skirted the rath at SW; this may preserve the outline of an external fosse.
The rath interior has a very slight slope down to E. A boulder is embedded in the ground in the SE quadrant. There is a break (Wth 3m) in the bank at N. A field fence on a NE−SW axis clips the rath scarp at SE−S. Another rath (MA071-150----) is located 130m to SSE.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 13 September 2021