Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

A conjoined enclosure excavated by Macalister and Praeger (1928), the results of which have been recently re-interpreted by Schot (2006). The conjoined enclosure is one of a cluster of monuments situated on the Hill of Uisneach. Nearby monuments include a mound barrow (WM024-173----) 200m to the N, an earthwork (WM024-068----) 390m to the SE, an embanked roadway annotated 'ancient road' (WM024-067----) runs onto the S side of the monument, a ringfort (WM024-063----) and holy well (WM024-60----) lie 390m to the SSW, an earthwork (WM024-065----) lies 290m to the W, a second earthwork (WM024-062---) 270m to the WNW, and a ritual pond known as Logh Lugh (WM024-064002-) 170m to the NW.
The monument was described in 1963 as a 'large pair of conjoined ringforts, with hut-foundations (WM024-066002-) visible in the either part' (SMR file 1963). This ringfort was excavated in 1925-8 by R. A. S. Macalister, who believed that the larger ringfort was the mythological 'palace of Tuathal Techtmar'. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map the monument is depicted as a large circular ringfort with D-shaped annexe on the E side of the ringfort. On this map a 'Cave' or souterrain is annotated and depicted in the centre of the ringfort, the E quadrant of the ringfort interior has been divided into two small areas defined by earthen banks which run off the N & E side of a rectangular shaped platform located in the S quadrant of the ringfort. This rectangular platform appears to be the foundations of a hut site. A second possible hut site is depicted in the centre of the W annexe on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. These earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken 09/07/1964 (CUCAP AJQ092/093/094), 12/07/1966 (CUCAP AOY072/073/074) and 11/07/1969 (CUCAP AYR014/015/016).
Schot (2006, 1) recently reinterpreted the results of the excavation by Macalister and Praeger and summarised her findings as following; 'Three main structural phases are postulated, the principal components of which comprise a late prehistoric ceremonial enclosure, an early medieval conjoined ringfort and a field system of possible medieval date. The changing role of the site from sanctuary to domestic settlement during the early medieval period and the possibility that the conjoined ringfort was a high-status, perhaps even 'royal', residence of the Clann Cholmáin 'kings of Uisneach'.

See attached plan of site taken from Schot 2006 after Macalister and Praeger 1928

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 13 August 2019

References

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

Schot, R. 2006 Uisneach Midi a medón Érenn: a prehistoric ‘cult' centre and ‘royal site' in Co. Westmeath. Journal of Irish Archaeology 15, 39-71.

Macalister, R.A.S. and Praeger, R.L. 1928 Report on the Excavation of Uisneach. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 38C, 69-127.