Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On summit of hill in generally undulating terrain, under pasture. An enclosure (TS076-037002-) is located immediately downslope to the S. According to the OS Letters 'it was the residence of Fearchios Mac Coman, the poet, who at the instigation of Cormac Mac Art, murdered Lughaidh Mac Con, King de facto of Ireland, who reigned 30 years. This place was anciently called Ard-na-nGeimhleach, i.e., altitudo vinculorum. When visited c. 1840 by the OS it was described as 'much injured…The circumvallation around it is nearly defaced...lime kiln was placed in extremity at northeast side; the side is still visible. A small portion remains on south west side in which was placed a lime kiln on the inside, as may be concluded from the appearance of the spot' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 137-8). Ringfort levelled, however, still visible as raised, roughly circular area (diam. 37m N-S; 34.5m E-W). The OS Letters (ibid.) mention a bank surviving in the SE quadrant which is 'about four feet [1.2m] average height and eight feet [2.4m] in breadth at top in its present state'. The diameter is given as being about 'seventy paces = two hundred and ten feet [64m], the trench running around the foot (base) of the mound between it and the circumvallation being included' (ibid.), suggesting there was an external fosse. Townland boundary runs NE-SW along N quadrant, it has stone revetment on N face. According to OS 6-inch map the bank ran into the townland boundary (Wth 5m base; H above fosse 0.87m; H above ext. 1.57m) which curves out to respect or incorporate the site. However, the raised area (Wth 8m; H above fosse 0.42m; fosse Wth 9m) falls short of this (diam. N-S to townland boundary is c. 47m), possibly suggesting that the site was bivallate. Ploughed-out bank forms wide bank/scarp (Wth 14.6m; H above int. 0.41m; H above fosse 0.67m) with wide external fosse (Wth 5.2m), particularly evident in E quadrant where there is also an indication of an outer, broad bank (Wth 14.4m; H above fosse 0.32m; H above ext. 0.33m). Edge of ringfort in W quadrant is not very clear and S quadrant is quite reduced. Field boundary S of ringfort has been removed. Bank survives in townland boundary. Bank peters out when it does not correspond with the monument. Appears to be a break in fosse in E quadrant with slight causeway. According to Power (1908, 26) a house stood 'till recently within the lios'. House not indicated on 1st (1840) ed. OS 6-inch map. However, the OS Letters (ibid) mentions that the 'surface of the ground presents to view, as it were, the sites of some rectangular edifices, at least of two in number, which were, it would appear the foundations, built of stone'. This were probably the remains of the houses referred to by Power.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 24 September 2014

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Tipperary collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840. Bray.

Power, P. 1908 Placenames of the Decies. Journal of the Waterford and Southeast of Ireland Archaeological Society 11, 1-34, 45-78, 135-43 and 179-210.