Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Levelled ringfort situated on SW-facing slope of a gently sloping hill, in pasture with good views to S, SW and W. A ringfort (WM017-003----) lies c. 80m to SE. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a roughly oval-shaped enclosure (approx. dims. 42m N-S; 37m E-W) intersected at WNW by a townland boundary running NE-SW. Depicted on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map as a circular shaped enclosure with a small circular feature outlined by a scarp at the centre, which may represent a house site (WM018-002001-). Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a penannular-shaped earthwork which is open to E.
Upstanding monument described in 1963 as an 'old farmyard. Rather nondescript enclosure (43 paces across NW-SE) on ground falling to SW. Upper (NE) end is undefined but lower end (SW) is banked up (with small field stones, etc) to make a level space. Foundations of small approximately square building (9-10 paces each way) in the middle' (OPW Field Report 30/03/1966). Monument levelled between 1966 and 1970 when it was described as a completely levelled circular earthwork (approx. diam. 30m) defined by a clayey band (Wth 2.5m) of differential growth which contrasts with the surrounding pasture and is likely to represent a backfilled fosse. The original entrance is not recognisable. Parts of the interior have been skimmed away. Fragments of charcoal and bones are visible in the disturbed soil. Levelled monument is not visible today on Digital Globe aerial photography.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 10 January 2019