Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 155. Described in 1976 as ‘a roughly circular area (diam. 29.8m ENE-WSW; 28m NNW-SSE) enclosed by a low earth and stone bank with trees growing on it. There is a stream and field boundary to the N. The bank has a slight inner crest on N-NE and is surrounded by a fosse , shallow but fairly wide (rock cut) on NE-E. On the SW and W the fosse is barely visible but here there is a slight indication of a low counterscarp outer bank. Probable entrance (original) gap (Wth 2.5-5m) on the E. Within the interior there is a considerable amount of stone most of which appears to be the natural limestone outcropping but there are traces though vague of a possible stone structure. A very large limestone slab is visible in the SW quadrant and beside and under this there is evidence of recent digging. The interior slopes slightly from E to W. Macalister suggests that this may be the ecclesiastical site mentioned in the legends but the evidence does not support this’ (SMR File 23/04/1976). Ordnance Survey Fair Plan map depicts a ‘fort’ and shows a small rectangular ruin marked in red ink just N of centre in the interior of the enclosure (SMR File).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 26 January 2016