Enclosure - large enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Located towards the bottom of the NE-facing slope of a hill in Patrickstown townland and overlooking a col with a small hill whose summit is c. 500m to the NE. This is a large oval, grass-covered area (diam. c. 70m NE-SW; c. 66m NW-SE) that slopes down to the SE (H c. 2m) from the centre and more severely to the NE (H c. 10m). It is defined by a broad grass and scrub-covered earthen bank (Wth of base 8.5-9m; int. H 0.7-1.4m; ext. H 0.9-1.5m) S-N-NE and an outer fosse (Wth of top 7-8m; ext. H 0.2m at SE to 0.6-0.8m generally). There are gaps in the bank at WNW (modern) and ESE but the original entrance is probably that (Wth of base c. 3.4m) at NNE with traces of a causeway (Wth c. 5.6m) in the fosse. A NE-SW field bank overlies the interior towards the perimeter at SE and the original bank is much reduced SE of this feature.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 1 November 2018
Amended: 15 December 2022