Fairy Rath — Grove Great

Marked faintly as subcircular area (diam. c. 45m) described as a fairy rath only on the 1940 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. It is depicted with a fragment of surviving bank at SE within a small rectangular field. It is situated towards the bottom of an E-facing slope in the valley of the N-S River Bann with the stream c. 170m to the E. It was not visible at ground level but the field (dims. c. 50m NW–SE; c. 60m NE–SW) is raised above the surrounding area at N and E (H 1–2m). A tale was recorded in 1940 relating that when the rath was first ploughed in the late 19th century the farmhouse was plagued for six months with showers of stones that did no damage. The stone-throwing stopped after a visit from a poor woman who drank water in the kitchen (OSFM). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 1 March 2012 Amended: 14 May, 2014