Enclosure in Rathfran

Located on level ground in the N end of a modern rectangular pasture field, immediately E of a rath (MA015-026001-). The level ground is part of a natural terrace, at the top of SE-facing slope, overlooking mouth of Palmerstown River. Ground rises sharply to the NW. A road, on a roughly E-W axis, borders the N end of the field. This possible enclosure is not indicated on OS 6-inch maps. An inspection in 1978 recorded it as a low bank/scarp, which extended to E and NE from the S side of the rath (MA015-026001-), defining the curving S side of a roughly D-shaped area (c. 35-40m NE−SW; c. 45m NW−SE), with the straight side at N formed by the modern road-side fence (SMR File: OPW Field Notes). An inspection in 2017 found that the curving scarp/bank is extant where it borders a low terrace on which a possible house (MA015-026003) is located, immediately to S of the rath, but it has been levelled where it extended through the field to E and NE of this. Though termed an ‘enclosure’ in the 1978 report, the bank/scarp may simply have been a field boundary. Its significance and date is uncertain –it appears to post-date the rath, but clearly differs in orientation to, and most likely predates, the current rectilinear grid of fields. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 31 August 2017