Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Poorly preserved possible ringfort in low lying area and partly built on by farm sheds. Circular area (int. dims. 30m N-S) defined by low earthen bank or scarp and shallow external fosse. Described in 1977 as, 'a poorly preserved circular ringfort. The earthwork is outlined on east by slight remains of a low bank of earth with a shallow fosse outside it. On south there is a low scarp with a modern drain beyond it, while on west there is a very low broken down scarp. On the northern side the earthwork is bounded by a low bank & fosse which form part of the field boundary. The interior of the site is fairly even & is featureless. The diam.[eter] of the interior is approx. 30m north-south. This earthwork is in fairly flat pasture land, moderately drained' (ASI file 1977). Depicted as a tree-ring and not as an antiquity on the 1838 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and on the revised 1908 ed. OS 6-inch map as a circular grove of trees. The site is located 450m N of Kilduff House and may have been built as a tree-ring forming part of the landscaping of the land around Kilduff House. On the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map the site appears to be a tree-ring forming part of the landscaped lands of Kilduff House. It is possible that this was originally a ringfort that was re-used as a tree-ring or alternatively that this feature was constructed in the 18th/19th century as a tree-ring.
In 2002 archaeological testing was carried out by John Purcell under licence no. 02E1182 as part of the planning schedule for a single-house development near an earthwork (OF010-009----). Four trenches were excavated by mechanical digger. No features or finds of archaeological significance were revealed.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 23 December 2011