Castle — ringwork in Shanbally (lisronagh Par.)

On gradual SW slope, just off summit of ridge in undulating terrain, under pasture. Lisronagh tower house (TS077-010001-) is visible c. 200m to SW and medieval church (TS077-010002-) is c. 150m downslope to SW. Monument consists of a raised, grass-covered, roughly circular area (diam. 34.1m N-S; 41m E-W), defined by gently sloping scarp (H 1.64m) and wide, U-shaped fosse (Wth 4.4m; D 1.13m). In the SW quadrant there has been some disturbance, localised quarrying and the fosse is less evident. There are no stones visible in the scarp where it has been denuded. Appears to be remains of a causeway entrance in the W quadrant. According to Lyons (1937, 242-3) this monument was known locally as 'the rath of the (baron's) court' and was originally high and conical but 'was destroyed in the first half of the nineteenth century by the farmer who rented the field which it stands. A cist containing human remains was found in the work'. The OS Letters record that the monument was under tillage for some time 'It is situated on high ground in a pasture field, and has been cultivated in common with it since some period back. The traces of ridges are still visible on the surface. It is nearly levelled on southwest, south, southeast and northeast sides; the only part of the mound retaining any considerable portion of the original height being on the west and north sides' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 145). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011