Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a low rise, with good but not extensive views.
Raised circular area (31m N–S; 31m E–W) defined by an earthen scarp (ext. H 1.45m at NE, 1.3m at SW) topped with wall footings, outside which is a fosse and possible outer bank/wall.
The wall footings (Wth 1.5-2m) survive to a height of two to three courses (int. H 0.8m) at NE–E, but elsewhere they are dilapidated, reduced to a low stone bank with remnants of the inner or outer facing visible only intermittently; at NNW–NE they have been subsumed into a later field wall.
The base of the scarp is enclosed by a well defined fosse (Wth 4m; D c. 0.5m), a section of which at SW is infilled with field clearance stones. At N–NE the outer edge of the fosse is defined by an earth and stone bank (Wth c. 2m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 0.45m), and at NE–W by a field wall (Wth 0.6-1m; H 1.2m). At NW–N the outer bank/wall has been levelled.
The entrance is likely to have been at ESE where there is a dilapidated gap (Wth 1.8m) in the scarp, flanked on the N side by massive stone blocks, leading to a rough causeway across the fosse. There are also broad low areas or breaks in the scarp at SSW (Wth 4m) and at WNW (Wth 4m), but these appear to be the result of relatively recent modification.
The interior has a gentle slope down from centre to W and SW. A depression (Wth c. 4m; D 0.5m) extends from the enclosing wall at N for 8m to S toward the centre of the interior, possibly a souterrain (MA072-022001-). An area of rough paving is evident in the S half of the interior. It consists a strip (Wth 2-3m E–W) of large horizontal slabs which extend from the centre of interior for several meters to S towards the break in the scarp at SSW. Some of the slabs appear deeply embedded but others rest on the surface.
A few hawthorn bushes grow on the perimeter and in the interior.
There is a rath (MA072-020----) c. 200m to W and an enclosure (MA 072-021001-) c. 230m to SW. A rath (MA072-018001-) is visible on a prominent rise c. 500m to N.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 26 March 2021