Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a knoll which is the summit of a N-S ridge. This is a raised oval, and partly quarried area (dims c. 36m NNE-SSW; c. 22m E-W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth of base 10-11m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 3.6-4.2m) which melds into the slope externally. At its base is a berm (Wth 1.5m) with an outer earthen bank (at WSW: Wth of base 3.5m; int. H 1.2m; ext. H 1m at N to 2.4m at W) S-W-NE, but the bank is absent NE-S where only the berm (at SE: Wth 2m) is present. There is an entrance through the inner and outer banks at S.
At the base of hillock (23m distant and 4m lower at N) is a curving scarp (Wth 2.5-4.5m; H 1.2-1.4m) SSW-N-NE that morphs into a field bank and hedge ENE-SE but is absent SE-SSW. This forms a large subcircular enclosure (dims c. 95m E-W; 85m N-S), and three radial banks connect the outer bank of the rath with the scarp of the large enclosure at SW, W and NNW. An original entrance is not identified. Another fragment of an enclosure defined by an arc (Chord c. 40m NNW-SSE) of a low bank and fosse is attached to the S of the large enclosure and may be the remnant of a field system.

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: 9 January 2019