Enclosure in Rathduff (rathconrath By.)

Situated on the E-facing shoulder of a hill, in reasonably good pasture. Not depicted as an antiquity on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. Shown as an area of rock outcrop on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch where it is depicted as a narrow rectangular shaped area (approx. dims. 160m NE-SW x 70m NW-SE) defined by a townland boundary from SW-W-N and by a low earth and stone bank elsewhere. Along the NW side of this area of rock outcrop the townland boundary with Irishtown kicks out in a semi-circular fashion following the outline of a sub-circular shaped enclosure (dims. 84m N-S; 78m E-W). Aerial photographs (CUCAP APH001/002) taken 17/07/1966 shows the site as consisting of a rise of ground partially enclosed by a curving earth and stone bank which is interested by a meandering townland boundary defined by a stone wall which kicks out to form a distinct angle at NW. Site consists of a sub-circular shaped area defined by the remains of a stone wall visible from SW-W-N where it forms the townland boundary with Irishtown and elsewhere by an earth and stone bank with traces of an external fosse. The townland boundary at NW has a distinct angle. The interior is subdivided by low earthen banks creating small rectangular and sub-rectangular shaped plots which are clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial coverage. Also visible is a natural rise or mound in E quadrant, surrounded by a low earthen bank which is best preserved at NE, E and S. The internal subdivisions are more fragmented across the W half of the interior and incorporate a small circular anomaly at NW, which is a probable hut site (WM017-018001-). Cultivation ridges running NE-SW are visible in fields immediately to E and S. It is possible that some of these earthworks could be the result of post-medieval quarrying as the site is located on natural rock outcrop. Classification of this monument is difficult based on the complex series of earthworks which appear to make up a series of small sub-rectangular shaped areas, with one possible hut site clearly visible. The large sub-circular shaped enclosure is formed by an earth and stone and stone wall forming a townland boundary at N with curving earth and stone bank elsewhere. The townland boundary all appears to cut across the enclosing element suggesting that this was a later feature. The remains of two larger rectangular-shaped enclosures are located in field 45m to E which may be related to the larger circular shaped enclosure. Possibly the remains of a small clustered settlement contained within a circular-shaped enclosure. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 28 November 2018