Rathbaun

In pasture, located on a prominent rise, with good views over the surrounding undulating terrain. There is a stream 150m to S. A farmyard is located immediately to NW-N. This rath is named ‘Rathbaun’ on 1838 OS 6-inch map. Raised circular area (24.6m N-S; 24m E-W) defined by a degraded earthen bank (Wth 3.6m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H. 1.10 at N, 1.5m at S). A few stones protrude along the top of the bank. The interior is generally level, with a slight slope down to SE in the E half towards a slumped gap (Wth 5.5m) in the bank, which may be the location of the original entrance. At S the external face of the bank was incorporated into the line of a field boundary, remnants of which extend beyond the rath to E. A gravel quarry pit, shown on the 1922 OS 6-inch map, encroached to within 1m of the enclosing bank at W; it is now disused and grassed over. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 17 July 2019

Rathbaun, Ballinlabaun is a circular earthen ringfort, likely dating to the early medieval period (c. 5th–10th centuries AD), used as a defensive or agricultural settlement. The name "Rathbaun" suggests a connection to a "fairy rath," reflecting local folklore that often associated such mounds with supernatural or otherworldly beings.