Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on a slight S-facing slope. In describing the boundaries of Clonee townland in the course of a land dispute in 1561 before four O’Doran brehons of the Ballyorley school (WX021-022004-) including Domhnall O’Doran and Gillaphadraig O’Deoráin, a raheen known as Ráithín Thomseáin (Thomas’ Rath) is listed (Binchy 1978, 1016, translated by Brian Ó Cléirig), which is probably this rath.

The rath is marked as a circular enclosure (diam. c. 50m) on the 1839 and 1925 editions of the OS 6-inch map, being bisected by a NE-SW field bank on the later map. It was removed c. 1970 but is described locally as an enclosure with a circular bank. It is not visible at ground level in pasture. Archaeological testing (91E0030) in January 1991 in the NW part produced evidence of a fosse (Wth 2.6m; D 0.6m) that was filled largely with modern debris (Bennett 1992). Further archaeological testing (19E0610) outside the area of the monument immediately to the E and S failed to produce any related material (McLoughlin 2019; excavations.ie 2019:285).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 11 April, 2012
Amended: 9 November 2020, 25 April 2023

Binchy, D. A. (ed.) 1978 Corpus Iruis Hibernici: ad fidem codicum manuscriptorum. Dublin, Institute for Advanced Studies

References

Bennett, I. 1992 Clonee Lower. Site of enclosure. In in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations 1991: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 47. Wordwell, Bray.

McLoughlin, C 2019 Archaeological Assessment Report, Clonee Lower, Co. Wexford. Licence: 19E0610. Unpublished report, Stafford McLoughlin