What is recorded here

Half a kilometre from St. Mary's Abbey at Odder, an old woman's fort still holds its shape on the hill's edge. The abbey claimed it in 1196, perhaps seeing Dún Domhnaill in the adjacent field, yet the earth has never fully submitted to ownership. A narrow ditch and thick bank still trace the perimeter where grass grows dense, but erosion has begun swallowing the western curve. The fort resists definition, keeping its own boundary even as the land forgets it.

Located at the SW edge of a broad low hill. Described in 1969 (SMR file) is a raised subcircular and grass-covered area (dims 53m N-S; c. 40m E-W) that slopes down to the SE (H c. 1.2m) defined by an earthen bank (Wth of base 6-7.5m; ext. H 2-2.5m) except NNE-SSE where it is defaced. There is an external fosse (Wth of top 13m; Wth of base 4m; int. D 1.7m; ext. D 0.7m) that can be distinguished from the bank SW-NW, but an original entrance is not identified. The perimeter is being eroded NW-E-SW since c. 2005 and it now has a rectangular appearance. The name Colliersttown is derived from Calliagh, meaning an old woman or a nun, and St. Mary’s Abbey of Odder (ME032-078---) was in the vicinity. In a confirmation of its possessions in 1196 Dún Domhnaill, described as in the adjacent field, was amongst its possessions, and Bhreathnach (1999, 9) suggests that this may be a reference to this rath. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 21 April 2022; 23 March 2023

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