Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, constructed on a SE-facing slope on the NW side of a natural hollow surrounded by rising ground at W–N–SE, but with open views to SW where another cashel (MA082-011----) is visible c. 350m in the distance.
Circular area (65.6m E–W; 68m N–S) defined by a collapsed stone wall, outside which at NNE–S is a second wall with an intervening gap or fosse.
The inner enclosing wall (Wth 3.5m-7.7m) survives as a broad, sod-covered stony spread, varying in width. On the upslope W half, the collapsed wall (Wth c. 5m; int. H 1.25m) is almost flush with exterior ground level but has a pronounced internal slump, mirroring the natural slope. On the E half, the stony spread (int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.5-0.8m) expands to a width of over 7m.
The fosse and external wall can be traced clearly only on the E half although a slight undulation at SW–NW may preserve the outer edge of the fosse. The fosse (Wth c. 2m at E) is flat-based and appears relatively narrow, probably due to slumping of the collapsed inner wall. The outer wall survives as a sod-covered stony rise (Wth 2.5m; int. H 0.25m; ext. H 0.3m at E).
At NNE there is a low area (Wth 3m) in the inner wall with a causeway-like stony rise (Wth c. 2m) across the fosse, but this may be the result of a late modification rather than an original entrance. There is another break (Wth 1.4m) in the inner wall at E.
Ground level in the interior mirrors the natural contours: there is a marked slope down to E in the W third, which levels out and then rises slightly in the centre, falling again to E–SE in the E third. A sub-circular stone platform (11m E–W; 9m N–S) which straddles the slightly raised central area may be the remains of a a house (MA082-008001-). A ruined later field wall on a N–S axis crosses the E half of the rath interior, crossing the possible house roughly centrally. Remnants of another field wall, on an E–W axis, overlie the SW edge of the cashel.
The cashel interior is dotted with small, sod-covered heaps of field clearance stones; it is grass covered with ferns and occasional blackthorn scrub and hawthorn trees. There is an enclosure (MA082-041001-) 120m to SE.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 17 December 2021