Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough, rush- and gorse-grown pasture, located on a rise with a steep fall of ground to W, commanding excellent views over a stream valley. Boggy ground extends to NE. There is a derelict farmstead immediately to SE.
Circular area platform (39.4m N–S; 39.4m E–W) defined by a scarp (H 1.8m at N), which retains a low internal rim (Wth c. 2.5m) at N, and enclosed by an external fosse (Wth 5.3m at N) evident around the full circuit as a shallow, damp depression marked by a dense growth of rushes. Remnants of an external bank survive at NW−NNE (Wth c. 6m), where it is clipped by a straight E−W field drain and field fence and is largely obscured by overgrowth, and at ENE–ESE where a short length is visible as a low rise. A farm track cuts across the fosse at SSE–S, and a vernacular stone-built shed appears to partly overlie the levelled remnants of the external bank at SSE.
In the interior there is a central spine of level ground from which ground level falls gently towards the perimeter scarp at W and NE. There is no clearly defined entrance, but it is most likely to have been at the E or SE; the fosse appears less clearly defined at ESE–SE.
According to local tradition, there is a souterrain (MA091-012001-) in the rath interior, the opening to which was in the bank at N.
Rushes grow throughout the interior and gorse rings the perimeter.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 9 February 2022