Rathcarn

Situated just SE of the summit of a fairly small but prominent drumlin, it is described as ‘Rathcarn’ – fort of the cairn – on the OS 6-inch maps. This is a circular grass-covered area (diam. 62m NNW-SSE; c. 60m ENE-WSW) that slopes down to the S (H c. 1.5m) that is defined by an earthen bank ESE-SSW (at SSE: Wth of base 5m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 1.4m) that is incorporated into a field bank WNW-E (at NNW: Wth of base 3.5m; int. H 1m; ext. H 1.8m) with an outer drain NW – NE but the perimeter is reduced to a scarp elsewhere. There is no visible fosse but the entrance (Wth of base 2.8m) is at N. There is a lunate annexe attached to the NW, beyond the field bank. This is visible as a level grass-covered area (max. dims c. 65m NE-SW; 18m NNW-SSE) defined by a low scarp (Wth 1m; H 0.35m). 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. Revised by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 26 October 2018

Rathcarn, Rathgillen is a circular, grass-covered ringfort, likely dating to the early medieval period, situated on a drumlin and originally named 'Rathcarn' (fort of the cairn) on Ordnance Survey maps. Local tradition may associate it with fairy lore, as is common with many such forts in Irish folklore.