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Indicated

Ecclesiastical enclosure

What is recorded here

Situated on top of Ryan Hill. A large D-shaped area (c. 140m E-W; c. 100m N-S) with a straight N side, defined by an earthen bank (Wth 4.8m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.6m) at NE and an earthen bank (Wth 5.2m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 1.5m) and outer fosse (Wth of base 3.5m; D 0.5m) at SW with traces of a scarp NE-SW. A NE-SW field wall bisects the enclosure and S of this is an inner scarp (H 0.5m) (diam. c. 70m NE-SW) that does not continue N of the field wall. Within that again is a rectangular area (32m NNE-SSW; 18m WNW-ESE) defined by a scarp (max. H 0.7m at E) and a slight bank (Wth 2.5m; int. H 0.1m; ext. H 0.4m) at S which is also cut by and extant only S of the field wall. A possible church (CL033-034002-) lay in the N portion of the rectangular area. Drumcliff church (CL033-033----) lies c. 700m to the SW. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 24 May 2016
Drumcliff is a likely early-medieval fairy fort (ringfort/rath) situated on Ryan Hill, characterised by a large D-shaped enclosure with earthen banks. It is associated with local folklore connected to the nearby Clonmacnoise monastic site and is traditionally linked to the legend of Cú Chulainn’s burial.

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What survives
Recorded monument

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