Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, in terrain broken by limestone pavement on a SE-facing slope on the E side of Red Hill. There are extensive views NE–S over a broad sweep of lowlying grassland, with the Ox Mountains defining the horizon SE–S. There is a rath (SL019-013----) immediately to N, and a souterrain (SL019-203----) c. 20m to ENE. Roughly circular area (22m E-W; c. 20-21m N–S) defined by a low, ruined and largely sod-covered stone bank/wall (Wth c. 4m; H c. 0.4m, at W) which is barely discernible in parts. At S–SW an arc of stones is visible which represents the in situ basal course of the external wall face. At SW–NW the stone bank is bordered externally by a shallow depression (Wth 2-2.5m; D 0.3m). This depression is not evident elsewhere around the circuit and it is not clear if it represents a fosse, or perhaps a remnant of an old trackway that skirted the cashel. At NNW–NNE the stone bank is truncated or overlain by an E–W field wall, immediately to N of which is a rath (SL019-013---). The field wall obscures the relationship between the two enclosures. The interior of the cashel has an uneven surface with much stone/bedrock protruding. A drystone field wall, on a NNW–SSE axis, cuts across the W edge of the interior. Abutting the E face of this wall, in the SE quadrant of the cashel, there is a stony depression (4m N–S; 0.6-1m E–W; D 0.5m).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 24 November 2014