What is recorded here

Rathlough Fort is a fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Clogher Beg, County Roscommon, Ireland. It occupies the bottom of an east-west valley at the north foot of Rathcroghan plateau. A subcircular grass and scrub-covered platform measures thirty-six metres east-west and twenty-nine point seven metres north-south. An earthen bank defines the north-west and north-east edge, while a scarp and overgrown fosse separate the rest of the platform from a surviving outer bank.

At the bottom of an E-W valley at the N foot of Rathcroghan plateau. It is described as 'Rathlough Fort' in gothic lettering on the 1837 and 1911 editions of the OS 6-inch map. Subcircular grass and scrub-covered platform (dims 36m E-W; 29.7m N-S) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3m; int. H 1m) NW-NE, which may be upcast from the shallow quarry to its S. Elsewhere the platform is defined by a scarp (H 0.5m at W to 1.8m at S) which is separated by an overgrown fosse (Wth of top 7-9.4m; Wth of base 3.5-4m; D 0.9-1.7m) SW-W-NE from an overgrown earthen bank (Wth 5m; ext. H 0.2m) that only survives WNW-NE. There is a modern entrance (Wth 4.5m) in the bank at W, and the perimeter of the mound has been quarried SW-NW. A bronze bell was found here c. 1935 (Bourke 1980, 66) in a 'ring of stones', which may have been a house site (RO022-006002-). This is probably when the interior was quarried. Mound (RO022-007----) is c. 140m to the ESE. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010

Rathlough Fort is a subcircular, grass and scrub-covered platform, likely an early-medieval ringfort situated at the northern foot of the Rathcroghan plateau. The name "Rathlough" suggests a historical or folkloric connection to a "fairy rath," common in Irish tradition where such sites were believed to be the homes of the Sidhe (fairy folk).

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.