Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On a W-facing slope in gently undulating terrain, surrounded by pasture, with large house, formerly Magorban Retory, c. 50m to SE. Circular area (diam. 40m N-S; 42m E-W) defined by a substantial round-topped earthen bank (Wth 7.6-8.4m; int.H 0.8-1m; ext. H 3.63-4.63m), waterlogged fosse (Wth 3.6m; D 1.8-3.4m) and round-topped outer bank (Wth 3.9-5.9m; ext. H 0.38-0.85), berm (Wth 5.8-11m), outer bank (Wth 7.1-12.7m; ext. H 1.7-2.25m) and outer fosse (Wth 1.7-4.3m; D 1.2-1.83m) which has been recut and utilised as a drainage ditch. There is an entrance (Wth 2.3-3.1m) in the NNW quadrant with a gap through the banks and a causeway (H 1.2m) over the inner fosse and a slight causeway over the outer fosse. There is a gap in the S quadrant (Wth c. 4m) where the inner bank has been pushed into the fosse and wooden planks placed to form a footbridge across the fosse. A later field bank runs N-S from the N quadrant across the outer fosse. Mature trees in interior and on banks. An early 19th-century monument, in the form of a pillar surmounted by an urn, was erected in the W quadrant in the interior, in memory of Thomas Brocklesby Godfrey of Beechmount House.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 13 October 2013