Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In grassland on high ground with good panoramic views in all directions in upland region. Modern bungalow in adjoining field to S and SW. Large impressive but overgrown hilltop enclosure which was impossible to examine or take any measurements due to dense cover of vegetation. Raised circular platform (approx. int. diam. 36m; overall diam. 90m N-S; 85m E-W) enclosed by a bank and wide water-filled moat (Wth 7m; D 1-2m) and external bank (base Wth 7m; ext. H 1-1.5m). Monument was visited in summer after dry spell of weather and moat was deep and filled with water. Described in the Civil Survey (1654-6) in 1640 as an 'Old rath by the side of a wood called Barnacuillnagapoge' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 105). In 1925 two silver armlets of Viking date were discovered on the middle bank of the trivallate enclosure by cattle poaching of the middle rampart where the two armlets were uncovered (Scott-O'Connell 1938, 125-6; Sheehan 1992, 210-216). Scott-O'Connell describes the monument as as a 'fort' of the 'triple ring type….of the three ramparts, the central one is the broadest, and the fosse inside this rampart is filled with mud and water. The three ramparts are constructed of broken shale - the bedrock of the neighbourhood - and parts of them and particularly, near the entrance to the fort are slowly being levelled by cattle seeking the water. The entrance to the fort faces east, and on the central rampart and to the south of the entrance the armlets were uncovered by the cattle during the Autumn of 1925. Both ornaments lay together on the shale'. An inscribed slab (TS054-044001-) was also uncovered during drainage works in a section of the inner fosse. In the OS Namebook Rathmooley was derived from Ráth Maol meaning the Bald or Flat fort and was described as a Danish fort consisting of four rings or embankments.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 1/1992).

References

Sheehan, J. 1992 The Rathmooley hoard and other Viking Age silver from Co. Tipperary. Tipperary Historical Journal, 210-216.

Scott-O'Connell, D. H. 1938 Viking Period silver ornaments from Rathmoley, County Tipperary. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 43, 125-26

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1931 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol I: county of Tipperary: eastern and southern baronies. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.