Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on gently elevated ground on a small headland bordered by a rocky shoreline, on the NW side of Coney Island. The headland defines the N end of a small bay with a sandy shoreline. There are good views to S over this bay and to W and N across Sligo Bay. Oval area (24m SW-NE; 19m NW-SE) defined by a low, grass-covered bank. The bank (Wth 1.7-2m) is almost flush with interior ground level, but has a low external scarp (H 0.35-0.5m). At NE−SE there is an external stone facing of large, limestone blocks, 1-2 courses high (H 0.2-0.4m). A few large stones protruding from the sod on the inner face of the bank at NNE may also be remnants of stone facing. At N−NE the bank is incorporated into, or truncated by, a later NW−SE field fence. At S a gap (Wth 2m) intervenes between the inner bank and a low, outer bank. At SW−NW the gap/possible fosse (Wth 3-3.5m) is broader but not significantly sunken, and the outer bank is evident as a broad low grass-covered rise or undulation (Wth c. 2.5-3m). These outer enclosing elements are truncated at N−NE by the later field fence, and are not evident in the field to N of the fence. The SW quadrant of the interior appears slightly raised, defined on its E edge by a low scarp (H c. 0.3m) which extends from the enclosing bank at S through the interior for c. 12m to NNE then peters out. It gives the raised area the appearance of being a roughly rectangular platform (c. 6m E−W; c. 9-12m N−S). It may represent the remnants of a hut site (SL013-001001-). Alternatively the scarp may be remnants of a field bank which bisected the rath. A low grass-covered field bank abuts the outer bank at S and extends 18m to SW of the rath, then changes directions and continues downslope to SSE for c. 15m, ending at the shoreline. Located 8m SW of the rath, is a small semi-circular feature (diam. 2m N−S) defined by a low, sod-covered bank (Wth 1.2m; H 0.2-0.25m) which curves S−NNE. A small, partly sod-covered heap of stones lies within the confines of the arc. The date and function of this feature is unknown.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 25 July 2017