Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at the N edge of an E-W ridge. This is depicted as a large circular embanked enclosure (ext. diam. c. 55m) on the 1836 edition of the OS 6-inch map where it is described as a ‘Fort’ and as a large hachured feature on the 1912 edition. It was described in 1969 (SMR file) as a subrectangular grass-covered area (dims 69m WNW-ESE; 69m NNE-SSW) that slopes down (H 2.5m) to the S defined by an earthen bank (at N: Wth of base c. 5m; int. H c. 0.2m; ext. H 2m) separated by a rounded fosse (at N: Wth of top 9m; Wth of base 4m; ext. D 0.5m) from a slight outer counterscarp bank (Wth of base 8m; ext. H 1.5m) NW-NE but the perimeter is incorporated into a field bank SW-NW and reduced to a scarp elsewhere. The perimeter was planted with some bushes in 1969 (SMR) but an original entrance was not identified. The visible profile appears to have been removed by 2005 (OSAP).

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: 12 August 2019
Amended: 24 March 2023

References

SMR file - Sites and monuments record files in the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

OSAP - Ordnance Survey Aerial Photographs. Photographic collection. Ordnance Survey of Ireland. Dublin.