Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on a level terrace on the SW-facing slope just below the top of a roughly E−W ridge. Ground rises gently to N, and shelves away to lowlying wet ground at S. There are very good views S−W, where a stream/drain coincides with the townland boundary c. 500m to S.
This rath is shown as a circular enclosure on the 1838 OS 6-inch map; by the time of the 1916 edition only the E half of the rath is depicted, bordered on the straight side at W by a field boundary.
The E half of the rath survives as a D-shaped platform (45.8m NNE−SSW; 25m WNW−ESE) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3.4m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 0.9-1.2m), outside which is a fosse (Wth 5m) with an outer bank (Wth 1.9m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 0.3m). The inner bank at NNE−NE is incorporated into a field fence. The fosse is broad, flat-based and very shallow. The outer bank survives as a low earthen rise with stones protruding randomly from its external face. There is a low area (Wth 2m) in the inner bank at E, and possibly a corresponding break in the outer bank (now obscured by gorse). At SSW there are corresponding breaks in the inner bank (Wth break 3.8m) and in the outer bank (Wth break 6.7m), which allow tractor access to the interior.
The straight W side of the surviving D-shaped platform is defined now by a property fence. To W of the fence, the W half of the rath has been levelled, its outline evident as a barely discernible surface undulation.
The platform is ringed with gorse and hawthorn. At SSE a portion of the enclosing elements have been dug and the fosse infilled with field clearance debris.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 4 November 2022