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Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Ringfort - rath

Down, County Westmeath, Ireland

The record

Townland
Down
County
Westmeath
Country
Ireland
First-edition OS map
Hachured
Latest-edition OS map
Hachured
Coordinates
53.59903, -7.35445
SMR number
WM012-034----

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

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This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗

The National Monuments Service's description

This monument was completely removed in the course of quarrying between 1995 and 2000 (SMR file). It was sited on the W edge of a natural terrace of the W side of a high hill. An inspection report dated 9 March 1972 recorded it as ‘An approximately circular slightly uneven enclosure with a general slight slope from NE – SW bounded by a steep scarp with slight remains of an earthen bank on its upper edge. The best is best preserved from NNE – NE – ENE and from E to S. Elsewhere it has been almost completely denuded down to the interior. There is no visible trace of a fosse at its foot. An earthen bank contacts the foot of the scarp on the SSW and a scarp-cum-bank contacts it on the N. These are probably later than the rath. There is a large disturbance gap in the bank and scarp on the E. It is uncertain where the original entrance was located.' (SMR file)
A second report in 1973 described the ringfort as situated on the edge of a natural terrace of the W face of a high hill in grass-land. Ringfort (WM012-042----), also known as ‘Rahanduff’ 150m to NE. Remains consist of a sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 32m N-S; 30m E-W) enclosed by a slight earthen bank. The bank is best preserved from NNE-ENE and from E-S; elsewhere it is reduced to a scarp. There is a possible entrance gap at NE. The interior slopes from NE-SW.

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 17 August 2015

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Sites and Monuments Record data: National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Record text is reproduced unchanged. National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland · CC BY 4.0
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