Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on top of a NE−SW ridge, close to the break of slope on the NW side where the ground falls steeply into a valley bordered on the opposite side by a high ridge. There are clear views of Croagh Patrick to W. To SE ground falls away more gradually, with extensive views over undulating pastureland.
This well preserved rath consists of a circular raised area (47.3m NNW−SSE; 50.2m ENE−WSW) defined by a substantial earthen bank (Wth c. 5m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 2.5m at NW, 1.45m at SE) with an external fosse (Wth 3-4m, base c. 2m, at NW).
The inner face of the bank is quite well defined and incorporates stones at NW but is levelled to a broad low lip elsewhere around the circuit, giving the rath interior a slightly dished or saucer shaped profile. The external slope of the bank is high and pronounced, especially so on the NW arc. The fosse is evident as a broad but very shallow silted-up depression.
The interior dips down slightly from centre to NE−E. It is crossed slightly N of centre by a NW−SE property fence, thickly covered in gorse. Remnants of cultivations ridges traverse the interior on a roughly E−W axis. The entrance may have been at E−ESE where the bank appears lower and there is a hint of a break in the fosse.
A holy well named St. Patrick’s Well (MA080-046002-) is a 40m meters to SE. According to tradition, this rath was ‘called Lisnacrus, or the fort of the Cross’ because of its association with the holy well: ‘The country people say that stations used to be held, marked by wooden crosses, starting from the well and round the rath back to the well.’ (Knox 1902, 188-9).

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 3 December 2021

References

Knox, H.T. 1902 Bullauns, forming two of St. Patrick’s wells in Connaught. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 32, 188-190