Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on top of and at the E end of a narrow ridge. A raised oval area (34.7m N-S; 29m E-W) enclosed by an earthen bank. The bank is substantial SW-NW and is lowest at E flanking the entrance (Wth 1.8m). Remains of stone facing is visible at the base of the bank, especially in the vicinity of the entrance. A break (Wth 1.5m) in the bank at N reveals a low external kerb of stones masked elsewhere by the slump of the external bank face. A band (Wth c. 3m) of soft damp ground outside the bank along the N arc probably indicates an infilled fosse. The interior is generally level but a slight E-facing scarp (H 0.1-0.2m) crossing the interior centrally on a N-S axis appears to indicate an internal division. A wide semicircular depression (Wth 7-8m E-W; ext. D 0.65m) immediately outside the bank at W is clearly the result of quarrying. The bank is thickly overgrown with hawthorn bushes.

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