Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated just off the crest of an E-W drumlin ridge on the N side. This is a subcircular grass and scrub-covered area (dims 36m NE-SW; 30m NW-SE) that slopes down to the NE (H 3.2m). It is defined by an earthen bank (Wth of base 7m; int. H 1.9m; ext. H 1.4m) S-SW that is reduced to a scarp (at NE: Wth 2m; H 1.5m) elsewhere. There is an outer fosse (at SW: Wth of top 5.6m; Wth of base 1m; D 1.4m) with an outer counterscarp bank (ext. H 0.6m) SE-S-NW that morphs into an outer stone-faced bank or scarp (at NE: H 1.1m) abutting the base of the original bank NW-NE. There is an entrance (Wth of base 1.4m) at NE, the lowest point of the interior. There are two conjoined circular hut-sites on a slight E-W rib inside the perimeter at N. The W hut (int. diam. 4m) is defined by an earth and stone bank (Wth 1.5m; H 0.2-0.3m) and is just W of the E hut (int. diam. 7m) defined by an earth and stone bank (Wth 1.5m; H 0.1-0.3m). No entrance features can be identified in either hut.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 30 January 2018