Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On a gentle N-facing slope. Described as a circular area (diam. 32m) defined by an earth and stone bank, a rounded fosse and an outer bank. There was an entrance and causeway at ESE, and the remnants of a rectangular structure in the centre which was regarded locally as a castle (RO035-009003-) (Gannon 1972). The castle of Ballinderry was held by Edward White in 1585 (Freeman 1936, 164), but he had lost it to rebels by 1596 (Cronin 1980, 117). The rath was removed in 1984, and the owner fined under the National Monuments Acts. It is not visible at ground level in reclaimed pasture, but it is visible as a vegetation mark on aerial photograph (ASIAP (228) 35). Rath (RO035-008----) is c. 130m to the N.

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. 13/1983).

References

Gannon, A. 1972 Archaeological survey of Roscommon. Unpublished typed index cards prepared for Roscommon County Council.

Cronin, T. 1980 The Elizabethan colony in Co. Roscommon. In Murtagh, H. Irish midland studies: essays in commemoration of N.W. English, 107-20. Old Athlone Society.

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