Rathnaboogh

In undulating pasture, located on a rise. This rath is named ‘Rathnaboogh’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a circular area (21m N–S; c. 22m E–W) defined by a scarp (H 1.4m). At NW–NE the scarp retains the hint of an internal lip (int. H 0.2) suggesting that the bank was originally 3.5-4m in width. At SE–SW the external face of the scarp is faced with large stones and boulders. Outside the scarp at SE–SW is a field bank (Wth 2m) of earth and stone that respects the curve of the rath, with a low undulation suggesting that it once continued around the W arc of the rath. This field fence may incorporate, or mirror the curve of, an original external bank, and the intervening gap (Wth 3m) between it and the rath scarp may preserve the line of a fosse. The rath interior is level. In the NW quadrant there is a shallow, irregular depression (3m E–W; c. 2m N–S) of unknown significance. The rath is boxed in at N and E by field fences: there is a roughly E–W field fence immediately to N, and a roughly N–S field fence clips the external face of the rath scarp at E. The perimeter is ringed with hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel. There is a rath (MA038-038----) 40m to N, a possible motte (MA038-041----) 120m to SSE, and a possible rath (MA038-039----) 160m to NE. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 25 July 2019

Rathnaboogh is a likely early-medieval ringfort, characterized by a circular scarped enclosure up to 1.4m high, situated on a rise in undulating pasture. The site has no specific folklore recorded, though like many such forts, it may have been associated locally with fairy or other supernatural traditions.