Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

At the N edge of the Rathcroghan plateau, and within the ceremonial enclosure (RO022-056050-). Circular grass-covered earthen platform (diam. of top 35.5m N-S; 32.5m E-W; diam. of base 65m N-S; 61m E-W) which has a N-S ridge through the centre. It is defined by an earthen bank (int. H 0.3-0.7m) NNW-E-SW and a scarp elsewhere (H 4.5m over 10m at S to H 6.2m over 14m at N). It is surrounded by a flat-bottomed, partly rock-cut fosse (Wth of base 3.5m at S to 6-7m generally; D 0.3-0.8m), and there is an outer bank (Wth 6.5m; H 0.4m) NNW-NNE (max. ext. diam. 79.5m N-S; 77.3m E-W). The entrance (Wth 3.3m) and causeway (Wth 3.3m; H 1m) are at SE, and the fosse has been quarried NE-SE with the ancient spoil added to the fosse at NE. Little Rathbeg (RO022-056-016-) is c. 160m to the WSW. (Knox 1911, 224-5, 240; 1914, 13; Herity 1983, 132; 1988, 138, Toberrory 1; Waddell 1983, 35, 37; 1988, 7-8, No. 26)

Geophysical survey revealed that it may be built around a slight natural rise, but it also recorded anomalies suggestive of two, or possibly three penannular structures that are probably hut-sites on the summit. The central one (ext. diam. c. 15m) appears to have a hearth and an E entrance, while that to the SW appears to underlie the rath bank. (Waddell et al. 2009, 66-79)

See the three attached view from the SE (002) and aerial images from the E (004) and N (009).

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 24 August 2010

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 20/1934), and it is a National Monument in state ownership: No. 294.

References

Knox, H.T. 1911 The Croghans and Some Connacht Raths and Cashels. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 41, 93-116, 205-40, 301-42.

Waddell, J. 1983 Rathcroghan - a royal site in Connaught. Journal of Irish Archaeology 1, 21-46.

Waddell, J. 1988 Rathcroghan in Connacht. Emania 5, 5-18.

Herity, M. 1983 A survey of the royal site of Cruachain in Connacht, 1. Introduction, the monuments and topography. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 113, 121-42.

Herity, M. 1988 A survey of the royal sites of Cruachain in Connacht Roscommon. IV. Ancient field systems at Rathcroghan and Carnfreee. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 117-118, 67-84.

Knox, H.T. 1914 Ruins of Cruachain Ai. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 44, 1-50.