Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In rocky upland pasture, on a rise on the margins of flat boggy ground. A spring rises to N of the rath and flows past it at NE, feeding into the boggy ground. A roughly circular area (c. 40m N-S) defined by a scarp (H 1.5m) SW-NNE and by a steep natural fall of ground S-SW. The enclosing elements are not visible NNE-SE due to a dense overgrowth of blackthorn bushes. The scarp is topped by a rim of loose stones (Wth c. 1-1.5m), stones are also visible in the face of the scarp which may be remains of stone facing. A shallow external flat-bottomed fosse (Wth 2m) is visible SW-NNE. The remains of a stone field boundary (Wth 1m; H 0.3m) skirts the fosse W-NW. The interior is level except in the NE quadrant where it slopes down to NE and is wet underfoot. Much of the interior is engulfed in a thicket of blackthorn, hazel and brambles, but the centre is clear of overgrowth. There is a possible hut site (SL025-011002-) in the NW quadrant of the interior. In the E and SE of the interior are the remains of possible 19th-century structures, consisting of a number of intersecting ruined walls (Wth c. 1m; H 0.4m) enclosing small rectilinear areas. Within one of these areas are the foundations of a rectangular structure (4.3m N-S; c. 5.3m E-W) defined by a sod-covered stone wall (Wth 0.7m; H 0.3m). The interior is partially infilled with stones. It appears to be the ruins of a small house. To S of the structure there are spreads and heaps of fieldstones. There is a possible souterrain (SL025-011001-) in the interior.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

Date of upload: 18 January 2008