Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough pasture, located close to the break of slope at the W end of a roughly E–W ridge, overlooked at ENE by the summit of the ridge. There are views to W over a broad flat expanse of bog and elsewhere over gently undulating mixed pasture and bog, some of which is now under forestry.
Raised, roughly circular area (27.7m N–S) defined by a dilapidated earthen scarp (H 1.2m at NNW; 0.7m at S). A field wall on a N–S axis extends across the interior, roughly centrally. To W of this wall, an impenetrable thicket of blackthorn and brambles obscures the rath; to E, the interior has an uneven, grassy surface with several shallow depressions, and slight slope down from centre to E and SE. The perimeter on the E half is ringed by hawthorn and scrub. At N a field wall, on a roughly E–W axis, overlies the top of the scarp. At the base of the scarp at NE–S there is another scarp (H 0.7m) faced with stone; this appears to be a late feature, the result of incorporation of the rath into a later system of field walls. There is a local tradition of a souterrain (MA072-061001-) in the rath.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 6 May 2021