Rathbarran

In undulating pasture, on a natural rise and densely covered with undergrowth and trees. The natural rise is utilised to form a high flat-topped circular platform (24.6m NW-SE) defined on top by an earthen bank (Wth 3m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 4.8m) S-N and by a scarp N-S. A tumble of loose stones was noted on the external slope of the bank. The base of the platform is enclosed all round by a fosse (Wth 3m) with an external bank (Wth 5m; int. H 1.5m; ext. H c. 3.6m). A tumble of loose stones is evident on the internal and external slopes of this bank, most noticeably at NW. The interior is mostly level with a slight slope down to SE. A shallow depression (Wth 1.4m; D 0.15m) skirts the bank internally S-N. At NNE a sunken pathway (Wth 1.6m) through the outer bank leads to a series of steps, bordered on the W side by remnants of a low stone wall, which have been cut into the external slope of the platform. Another pathway approaches the barrow from the road to the E and curves up the slope of the hill to an eroded section of the outer bank at SE where a causeway (Wth 1.8m) crosses the fosse. A field boundary abuts the outer bank at WNW and another crosses the fosse at SSE. A large boulder (1.3m x 1.4m; H 0.75m) in the fosse at NNE is known locally as a mass-rock (SL025-071003-). A cist (SL025-071002-) containing an urn is said to have been found on the summit (Wood-Martin 1887-8, 270-72).