Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Straddling a slight rise in lowlying pasture, with good views, especially over a broad sweep of flat, wettish ground stretching to NE−E. A road lies a few meters to N.
Raised oval platform (36.8m NNE−SSW; 28.6m ESE−WNW) defined by a substantial earthen bank (Wth 3-3.5m; int. H 0.3-0.4m at NNE, 0.15m at SSE; ext. H 1.2-1.6m), outside which is a fosse evident as a very shallow depression (Wth c. 3m at NNE; c. 2m at SSW; ext. D 0.2- 0.45m) with stones protrude from the sod on the external edge.
The bank retains a low internal lip, with stones protruding along the top and on the inner edge. It is a reduced almost to a scarp at SSE−W. These are traces of possible wall footings along the top of the bank/scarp, possibly a later modification.
An entrance gap at the NE has outward extensions (L c. 2.5m) of the bank terminals bordering a broad, ramp-like slope (Wth 2.7m). The ramp probably formed a causeway across the fosse but it is now truncated by a field wall bordering a road.
The SW part of the interior appears slightly raised with a slight slope or dip down towards the entrance at NE. The interior was used as a children’s burial ground (MA119-050001-) and a dense concentration of stone grave markers are visible, especially in the SE quadrant.
There is another rath (MA119-050----) 10m to N.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 23 August 2023