Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Large bi-vallate enclosure consisting of a central flat area (c. 36m E-W) raised well above the surrounding ground surface and delimited by two large fosses and an intervening bank. Some evidence for an outer bank. Entrance gap with ramp at E. Small earthen mound (OF011-035002-) outside line of inner fosse would appear to have been built by the Marquis of Downshire c. 1825 (O'Flanagan 1933, 34). The bank is very wide and flat-topped and was probably landscaped at the same time.
On the E facing slope of Ballykilleen Hill with good extensive views. Large impressive multivallate ringfort which consists of a raised circular platform (diam 35m; ext. H 3m) enclosed by three substantial earthen banks with two intervening fosses with wide flat berm (Wth 11m) between the first and second banks probably the result of 19th-century landscaping with low earthen mound (OF011-035002-) also of 19th-century construction (O' Flanagan 1933 Vol. 1, 34) on enclosing berm at W. The circular platform is enclosed by a deep fosse (int. D 3m; Wth 2m) with enclosing outer bank (int. H 1m; Wth 1.5m) which has been landscaped to produce an intervening berm which is not visible at N. The second bank (Wth 2m; int. H 1m) with external fosse (Wth 2m; D 2m) is not visible at E probably due to the natural slope of the hill. Outside this fosse there is a third bank (Wth 0.9m; int. H 1m) with enclosing external fosse (Wth 2m; int. D 1m) visible from SSE through W to N elsewhere it is destroyed. Impressive causewayed entrance (Wth 3m) at E. The site has an overall maximum diameter of 122m.
Recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Near the modern town of Edenderry, a circular contour fort with a total site footprint of approximately 1ha in commanding position on an isolated hilltop surrounded by level terrain in all directions. The fort overlooks the Figile River to the SE and the Doden River to the W. Trivallate for the entire circuit, with a simple entrance gap in the E. In interior is raised approximately 3m above the external ground level. There is no evidence for any internal features on the surface. The ramparts survive well, although the outer ditch has been damaged in the SE, E and NE. Interior under scrub and dense tree cover. First map depiction in first edition Ordnance Survey mapping. More detailed earthwork survey in second edition Ordnance Survey mapping. Site survey by O'Brien and Sweetman in 1997.' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0972.html)

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 and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 6 February 2020

References

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1933 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the King's County collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Bray.

Lock, G. and Ralston, I. 2017 Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland.(Online website at https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk)