Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Ring-barrow sited on top of a low but prominent natural hillock described in 1977 as consisting of a circular shaped earth and stone mound (approx. diam. 7.7m; overall diam. 14m) with a very slight depression on top enclosed by a wide shallow flat-bottomed fosse with a poorly preserved or much denuded earth and stone bank.
Surveyed in 2013 and described by McGuinness (2014, 30-1) as following: 'Fairly well preserved, roughly circular stepped-barrow (Diam. 18m N-S x 19m E-W), shaped from a low knoll such that the central domed mound (Diam. 8m N-S x 7.8m E-W) is higher than the surrounding bank, and the ditch between them is higher than external ground level. Numerous large boulders have been incorporated in various parts of the mound and bank, especially the well-preserved western stretch of bank; N and NE sides of bank are poorly preserved. Mound rises up to 0.90m above ditch on W side; its upper surface is slightly hollowed, as if dug into by treasure-seekers. Bank is up to 2.10m in width on S side and, on its highest SSW side, rises up to 0.37m above ditch. Ditch is widest in SW quadrant of monument, reaching up to 3.60m in width on W side. Monument is situated on tiny knoll, apparently a kame, in undulating pastureland; surrounding ground slopes down steeply to SE, where base of knoll is 2.2m below base of bank, but much less so in other directions. Frewin Hill is prominent to NE. There are three other barrows (WM018-069----; WM018-106----; WM018-151----) in this townland, the nearest being c. 400m to E'.

See attached profile of monument, drawn and surveyed by the ASI

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

Date of revised upload: 05 March 2019

References

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 Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.