Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Monument surveyed in 2015 and described by McGuinness (2015, 35) as following: ‘Low domed mound (Diam. 9.0m N-S x 8.3m E-W) with flattish summit, reaching a height of 0.8m at SE where highest over external ground level, with traces of a ditch and external bank on S and possibly SW sides. From the ASI account of 13/4/73, the bank and ditch appear to have been in far better condition forty years ago: This consists of a wide deep V-shaped circular fosse with a substantial bank of earth outside it. Inside the fosse is a circular almost flat-topped steep mound like feature. The site is so densely overgrown that it is difficult to judge whether or not some of the fosse material was thrown on to it. At present the almost flat top of the area inside the fosse would suggest that is it in fact a ring-barrow. [SMR file] Elsewhere its overall diameter is given as 22.5m [SMR file]. Although earthen in appearance, probing indicates that the mound contains much stone. Poaching has removed parts of edge of mound at N, W and SW, but a slight depression in its upper surface might indicate ransacking by treasure hunters, if not a collapsed cist. Probable ditch at S side of mound is 1.7m in width; bank beyond this is 1.5m in width and rises 0.26m above the ditch. On historic OS 25” map, ditch is shown as complete, and an external bank is depicted for NW quadrant. There is a sub-rectangular, tongue-like projection at E side of mound, 2.5m in length, 2.3m in width and up to 0.2m in height; there appears to be a corresponding projection at W side, 2.8m in length, 2.7m in width and 0.4m in height. It is unclear whether these are original features. This monument, which has had a preservation order since 1977 but is currently in very poor condition, is prominently positioned on a low glacial hill (kame) with good visibility to N and E, one of several in this undulating landscape of glacial drift, now under pasture, and is surrounded by a ring of pine trees planted not long before 1973 [SMR file]. About 750m to NW is a graveyard (WM018-045001-) with ruined medieval church (WM018-045----), which Leo Swan (1988, 11) identified as an early medieval ecclesiastical site on the grounds that the shape of the graveyard indicated the former presence of a diagnostic curvilinear enclosure (WM018-045002-) or vallum surrounding the site’.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness.

Date of upload: 5 February 2016

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 22/1977).

References

Swan, D.L. 1988 The Early Christian ecclesiastical sites of County Westmeath. In J. Bradley (ed.), Settlement and society in Medieval Ireland: studies presented to F.X. Martin O.S.A., 1-31. Kilkenny. Boethius Press.

McGuinness, D. 2015 The prehistoric burial mounds and related monument of County Westmeath. Part III - Monuments in Northern and Eastern Westmeath (Baronies of Delvin and Fore, and Parts of Baronies of Farbill, Fartullagh, Moygoish, and Moyashel & Magheradernon). Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.