Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On top of the broad, flat summit of a hill in undulating pastureland. There are good views to the E and S, with the Rock of Cashel (TS061-025003-) visible to the N, a prominent ringfort (TS061-074----) visible to the NE and the hilltop enclosure (TS061-072----) on Windmill Hill visible to the NNW. A small enclosure (TS061-089002-) is located 20m to the NW. Large circular hilltop enclosure (int. diam. 89m) enclosed by four broad rounded-topped banks, an inner bank (int. H 0.6m; ext. H 1m; Wth at top 2.2m; overall Wth 4.6m), fosse (Wth 4m), bank (int. H 1.1m; ext. H 1.45m; Wth at top 2.1m; overall Wth 5.4m), fosse (Wth 2.2m), bank (int. H 1.05m; ext. H 1.22m; Wth at top 2.5m; overall Wth 5m), fosse (Wth 3.5m) and outer bank (int. H 1.35m; ext. H 1m; Wth at top 0.9m; overall Wth 2.5m) which has, for much of its circumference, been augmented and forms a much sharper profile than the other banks. In the E quadrant the inner bank has been reduced to scarp, being level with the interior. The interior is generally level but rises in the NE quadrant towards the inner bank. The entrance (Wth 5.8m) in the E quadrant is delineated by two parallel earthen banks (Wth at top 1.5-1.8m; Wth at base 2.9-4.6m; H above entrance 0.53-0.75m with a similar fall 0.6-0.75m to the other side) which run at right angles to the enclosing banks. There is a gap (Wth 1.8m) between both parallel banks and the outermost bank of the monument. The two central banks of the monument do not run up to join the parallel banks but appear to deliberately terminate three metres from the entrance banks. In the SE quadrant the second bank from the interior becomes denuded to the E. In the SE sector there is slight gap in the outer bank where it meets the field boundary running NW-SE. The banks and fosses from SSE-S-SW were inaccessible due to overgrowth. In the SSE sector the inner bank is much reduced. There is a gap (1.5m) in the second bank from the interior in the S sector. There is quite a lot of badger activity in the SW in the third bank and in the fosse between the second and third bank, with upcast from sets. The third bank appears to be particularly stoney. In the NW quadrant there is a gap (Wth 1.7m) in the second and third bank (gap Wth 2.8m) with an off alignment gap in the innermost bank (gap Wth 1.6m) and no break at this point in the outer bank.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011