Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, straddling a terrace on a S-facing slope, which falls to an expanse of level, wettish pasture. Ground rises immediately to N. An old farm road, on a roughly E−W axis, clips the N edge of the site. There are excellent views to SE−W.
This bivallate rath consists of a subcircular platform (31m N−S; 30m E−W) defined by a stony bank, outside which it is enclosed by a fosse with an external bank.
The inner bank has a low internal face and appears less substantial than the external bank. The fosse is flat-based and well defined. The substantial external bank has drystone facing in parts on its inner face; on the S arc it has a high exterior slope enhanced by the natural fall of ground.
The entrance is at ESE where there is a gap (Wth 1.7m) in the inner bank, traces of a stone-strewn causeway across the fosse and a corresponding low area (Wth 3.4m) in the external bank. There is also a low area/break (Wth 5m) in the inner bank at W. Loose moss-covered stones are strewn along the top and external slopes of both banks, as well as across the fosse. A low skirt (Wth 1.2-1.4m; H 0.2-0.3m) of tumbled material curves around the base of the external slope of outer bank on the S arc.
In the SE quadrant of the interior a low sod-covered linear rise/scarp (Wth 2m; H 0.2-0.3m) extends on a NNE−SSW axis for 8m, turning to E for 2m at its NNE end. Stones protrude from its SSW end. The significance of this feature is uncertain.
The rath interior is grassy; both banks are ringed with oak and hazel trees, with mossy undergrowth.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 27 October 2022