Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In average pasture, ground falls away to NE, levelling out to an expanse of wet pasture and bog bordering Derrycreen Loughs. Views are good N−E; restricted to W by gently rising ground.
Shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map as a roughly circular enclosure (diam. 50-55m); by the time of the 1916 edition only the SSW−NNW arc of the enclosure is shown.
This enclosure has been levelled but it is possible to trace the outline of a sub-circular area (diam. c. 40-45m), crossed roughly centrally by a later field fence on a NE–SW axis, and slightly truncated at S–SW by a field fence on a NW–SE axis. A scarp (H 0.9m) extending SW–NW in a shallow curve appears to preserve the W arc of the enclosure. Outside the scarp at SW–W is a slightly sunken trackway (Wth 3m; D 0.3m) on a NE–SW axis, which extends to NE beyond the enclosure for a few meters and then peters out; it is possible that this preserves the line of an original enclosing fosse. Very ephemeral traces of an enclosing scarp are also evident at SE.
A sandpit (now disused) has destroyed most of the E half of the interior, leaving untouched only a small area in the SE quadrant occupied by a children’s burial ground (MA093-015001-). The site is known locally as a ‘fort’.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 14 June 2022