Raharney Ringfort

53°31′18″N 7°06′16″W / 53.521689°N 7.104459°W / 53.521689; -7.104459Altitude83 m (272 ft)TyperingfortArea0.17 ha (0.42 acres)Diameter39 m (128 ft)Height3 m (9.8 ft)HistoryMaterialearthCulturesGaelic IrelandSite notesOwnershipprivate
National monument of Ireland
Official nameRaherneyReference no.572

Raharney Ringfort is a ringfort located in County Westmeath, Ireland and a National Monument.[1]

Location

Raharney Ringfort is located immediately west of Raharney village, just south of the R156.[2]

History

Raths were ancient circular fortified settlements or homesteads in Gaelic Ireland (i.e. prior to 1170). The name is from the Irish Ráth Fhearna (ringfort of alder) or Ráth Athairne (ringfort of Athirne, a mythical poet).[3][4]

Description

The rath is relatively small, covering 0.17 ha (0.42 acres). it is visible today as a slight hill in the middle of a field, covered in trees.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Recorded Monuments" (PDF). Archaeology.ie. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Ráth Fhearna/Raharney". Logainm.ie. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Full text of "Dictionary of the Gaelic language: 1. Gaelic and English. 2. English and Gaelic. By Norman MacLeod and Daniel Dewar"". Archive.org. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  4. ^ Joyce, Patrick Weston (1 January 1871). The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places. McGlashan & Gill. Retrieved 10 September 2016 – via Internet Archive.