Rathmore — Oldcourt (bantry By.)

Marked as a large rectangular embanked or moated enclosure (ext. dims. c. 130m E-W; c. 100m N-S) known as Rathmore on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, and located on a gentle SE-facing slope with a N-S stream c. 110m to the E. This is a large subrectangular grass and fern-covered area (dims. c. 110m E-W; c. 85m N-S) defined by an earthen bank which survives W-N-NE. but it has probably been altered in this area. At present there is an outer earthen bank (at N: Wth 11m; int. H 3m; ext. H 1m) with an internal fosse or ditch (Wth of top c. 7m; int. D 1.2-1.6m), which is probably modern with an overgrown spoil mound inside it (Wth c. 17m; int. H 0.8m). The original perimeter is absent S-W where it is replaced by a field drain, but it may survive partly E-S where there is an earthen bank and hedge (Wth 3m; int. H 1m; ext. H 2.5m) which is cut away externally to a drainage ditch. There is a wide entrance gap (Wth 10.5m) at W, and the N part of the interior has some N-S scarps indicative of a later field system. The S part of the interior is in reclaimed pasture. Toberpatrick well (WX030-045----) is c. 60m to the SE. 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: 16 August, 2012