Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the summit of a broad steep hill in grassland, with extensive views of the surrounding hilly countryside. Trivallate ringfort known locally as ‘Rathmore’. Remains consist of a large sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 47m N-S; 50m E-W) enclosed by three large earthen banks and two intervening fosses. The inner bank is best preserved from ESE-S, and is fragmentary and almost reduced to a scarp elsewhere. The inner fosse is wide and steep, with suggestions of a low bank on its outer edge. Beyond this is a wide berm, which varies in width, but is widest at E, and is enclosed by a large earthen bank and external fosse. The outermost bank has been levelled from S-W-N. There is an entrance gap (Wth inner bank 3.5m; Wth middle bank 2.7m; Wth outer bank 3.7m) through the banks with corresponding causeway (Wth varying from 2.5m-3.7m) across the fosses at ESE. The interior rises towards the centre. There is evidence of quarrying on the perimeter at E, where part of the berm and outer bank have been quarried away. A field boundary running NE-SW intersects the monument at N. Outline of monument and its multivallate nature is clearly visible on aerial photographs taken in 1968 and 1970 (CUCAP AVO055/BDV071-072).

Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 9 February 2018

References

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com