What is recorded here

Enclosure in Castleblagh stands as a circular earthwork on a gentle slope at the north edge of Johnson's Wood, its bank and fosse still marking an 86-metre boundary despite heavy tree growth. A causewayed entrance faces north-east, leading into a linear avenue flanked by higher banks, suggesting the place was built to be entered, watched, and remembered rather than hidden. Lee called it a particularly fine rath in 1932, and that judgement still fits: the earth remains shaped, the line intact, and the wood dense enough to keep the enclosure feeling occupied even when no person is near.

At N side of Johnson's Wood, on gentle NNE-facing slope. Circular area (86m NW-SE) enclosed by earthen bank (int. H 0.9m; ext. H 1.1m to base of fosse); external fosse (D 1m). Causewayed entrance (Wth 6m) through bank to NNE; linear avenue (Wth c. 6m) extends from entrance to NE for 28m, flanked on both sides by earthen bank (max. H 1.4m). Fosse mainly broad and shallow, except to W where it becomes narrow and deep (D 1m). Enclosure disturbed at SSW side where bank no longer survives and fosse protrudes into interior; hachured plan of enclosure on 1935 OS 6-inch map and by Lee (ibid., 25) shows no interruption of enclosing bank and fosse here. Interior slopes down gently to NE. Enclosure heavily overgrown with coniferous and deciduous trees. Recorded by Lee (1932, 26) as 'a particularly fine rath...in fairly good state of preservation'. (Johnson 1998, 102) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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