Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough pasture, located on top of an E-W ridge, with slopes dropping to expanses of flat expanses of damp ground to NE and S, and extensive views over the surrounding landscape. There is a stream at the base of the ridge slope at S.
Raised roughly circular area (c. 34m N−S) defined by an earthen bank and enclosed by a fosse and external bank.
The inner bank (Wth 1.7m; ext. H 1.45m) has a low internal lip on the W arc, but is largely reduced to a scarp elsewhere. The fosse (Wth 2.7m at NE, 3.7m at S) can be traced as a depression around the full circuit. The outer bank (Wth 3.7-4.5m; int. H 0.9-1m; ext. H 0.7m at NE, 1m at S) is rather dilapidated and eroded. Both banks incorporate stones in parts, and are also topped with stones, possibly as a result of incorporation of the rath into later field walls –this is particularly evident on the outer bank at E and W.
There is an entrance at E, consisting of a low area (Wth 4m) in the inner bank (now partly blocked by stones), opening onto a broad causeway (Wth 4m) across the fosse. The causeway is flanked by a rough kerb or edging (Wth 1-1.4m) of large stones and boulders (H 0.4-0.5m). The corresponding gap in the outer bank is now blocked by a later field wall.
The centre of the interior appears gently raised and incorporates a souterrain (MA072-068002), which extends roughly NW−SE through the N half of the interior, swinging to SSW in the S half.
There are three field clearance cairns in the interior: The smallest (diam. 2m; H 0.3m) is located to E of centre; another located close to the bank at N consists of a low platform (6m N-S; 4.4m E-W; H 0.2m) of stone and earth bordered on its N edge by a large boulder, and a third (6m N-S; c. 5m E-W; H 0.5m), located in the S half of the interior, incorporates two close set, upright boulders.
The interior is covered by a thicket of blackthorn. There is a cashel (MA072-067001-) 220m to N.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 12 May 2021