Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Coolure Demesne, County Westmeath, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Coolure Demesne
- County
- Westmeath
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Outlined
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Coordinates
- 53.67151, -7.37042
- SMR number
- WM007-003----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
This impressive ringfort at Coolure Demesne was possibly a royal site belonging to the Uí Fiachrach Cúile Fobhair (O'Sullivan et. al. 2007, 36). Situated on floodplain of Lough Derravaragh on S facing slope of low ridge running N-S overlooking the N shoreline of the lake. Crannog (WM007-004----) 160m to S. Bog 1km to NW. This monument was originally situated on the edge of the lake prior to drainage as depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map where it is depicted as a polygonal shaped grove of trees. Present remains consist of a large D-shaped raised area (approx. diam. 60m N-S: 80m E-W) with straight side at S enclosed by a well preserved earthen bank, a deep V-shaped fosse and an outer bank only visible from SW-W. Entrance gap and causeway at E. The interior has a slight slope from N-S and has been planted with trees. An area of forestry surrounds the site at N. This site may have been a form of inland promontory fort or ringfort utilising the lakeshore location as a defensive feature.
Compiled by: Frank Coyne & Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 3 February 2017
References
O'Sullivan, A., Sands, R. and Kelly, E.P. 2007 Coolure Demesne crannog, Lough Derravarragh, Co. Westmeath: a crannog and its landscapes. Bray. Wordwell.
Nearby in the register
- Crannogunder 1 mi
- Crannogunder 1 mi
- Crannogunder 1 mi
- Settlement platformunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.