Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In undulating pasture, on top of the W end of a narrow ridge; the ground slopes steeply down to N and NW, more gradually to S and SW. A raised oval area (20.6m N-S; 25.8m E-W) defined by a scarp (H 2.25m) along the S arc and elsewhere by an earthen bank (Wth 4.3m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 1.75m) which is low internally in places. A possible entrance (Wth 1.2m) is at SE, outside of which is a slight rise (Wth c. 3m), possibly the remains of a causeway. The interior is uneven in general and the W portion is slightly higher than the rest. Off-centre to S is a linear depression (2.4m E-W; 5.5m N-S; D 0.5m) with a small sod-covered heap of stones at its N end. The rath is encircled by an earth and stone field boundary, generally c. 2-3m outside the bank but merging with it NW-N. Possibly this field boundary respects the line of an infilled fosse. A terrace (Wth 5m) lies outside the bank/field boundary NW-N. The perimeter of the rath is ringed with hawthorn, hazel and scrub.

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