Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Rathcore

Situated on a rise which is on the S-facing slope of a low W-E spur. An oval embanked enclosure is depicted only on the 1836 edition of the OS 6-inch map where it is described as a ‘Fort’. It was described in 1969 (SMR file) as a circular grass-covered area (diam. 59.5m N-S; 58m E-W) that was domed (H 1.8m to the W to 3.3m to the E and S). It is defined by a scarp (at S: Wth 10m; H 2.6m) that declines around to W and E (Wth 4m; H 0.8m) but the remnants of an earthen bank (Wth of base 8m; int. H 0.8m; ext. H 0.1m) and outer fosse (Wth of top 7m; Wth of base 3m; ext. D 0.3m) were evident at N and there were traces of the fosse at SE, SW (Wth of top 3.5m; Wth of base 2.5m; ext. D 0.35m) and NW. The original entrance was not identified. It had largely been quarried away by 2005 apart from a small part at S (OSAP). 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. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 13 August 2019 Amended: 24 March 2023