Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Surveyed in 2013 and described by McGuinness (2014, 61-2) as following: 'This appears to be the monument identified by Elizabeth Fitzpatrick as a ring-barrow in 1997 [SMR file], but as the survey-team had only very limited time on the site this season, there remains the possibility that there is also a ring-barrow in the area S of Templepatrick church (WM017-061----) and graveyard (WM017-061001-). Roughly circular dished platform (Diam. 7.3m N-S x 8m E-W) surrounded by a ditch up to 1.5m in width, and rising up to 0.4m above ditch where latter is well preserved at NW; ditch is up to 0.20m below ground level at NW side. Upper surface of platform slopes down gently from W to E. Distinctly hollowed centre of platform, 4.3m across N-S, gives the impression of a bank around the edge of the platform, 1.5m in width; as such, if not for the small size of the monument, it would have the appearance of a ringfort. Where cattle have poached the sod at SW side, monument can be seen to be composed almost entirely of earth. Monument lies in undulating pastureland c. 150m to S of disused walled graveyard containing medieval church of Templepatrick (WM017-061----); ruined and overgrown, this unicameral medieval church was found to measure 13.8m x 8.1m during ASI fieldwork in 1980. St. Patrick’s footprint stone was documented outside graveyard in nineteenth century (FitzPatrick 2004, 238). Based on extensive comparative evidence, Leo Swan infers the former presence of an early medieval curvilinear monastic vallum or rampart from the quadrantal shape of the graveyard (Swan 1988, 23). The landscape here shows signs of glaciation, with a reedy depression indicating a probable kettlehole close by to N of the barrow; a second hollow to SW, though now dry ground, might have been another such feature. There is higher ground immediately NW of the monument. A short distance SE of the monument is a bog, now partly planted with trees'.

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

Date of upload: 23 February 2015

References

FitzPatrick, E. 2004 Royal inauguration in Gaelic Ireland c.1100-1600: a cultural landscape study. Studies in Celtic History 22. Woodbridge. The Boydell Press.

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. 2014 The prehistoric burial mounds and related monuments of County Westmeath. Part II - Monuments in central Westmeath (Barony of Rathconrath and parts of baronies of Moygoish, Moycashel, and Moyashel & Magheradernon). Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.