Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, straddling a prominent rise with a marked fall of ground to S, providing good views NE–SW along a stream valley. The S side of the valley is bordered by the sheltering curve of a sinuous esker that overlooks the rath.
Oval platform (33m NE–SW; 44.5m NW-SE) defined by a scarp with an external fosse. The scarp (ext. H 0.9-1.2m at N, 1.9m at S) retains a low internal rim at W–NE suggestive of a bank with an original width of c. 2.7m. The external slope is greatly enhanced by the natural fall of ground. The fosse is visible at N–NE as a shallow depression (Wth 2-2.5m), marked by a growth of nettles, but is barely discernible elsewhere around the circuit.
In the interior, a gentle slope down from N to S becomes steeper in the S third, mirroring the natural contours of the rise. There is a pronounced slump and a break (Wth 1.4m) in the scarp at ESE which may indicate the original entrance. Faint cultivation ridges traverse the interior on a roughly E−W axis.
Grass cover; perimeter lightly ringed with hawthorn trees. There is a grassed-over quarry pit (diam. c. 7m) immediately to NW of the rath. Another rath (MA102-018----) is located c. 230m to W.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 26 September 2022