From the air, the slightly flattened circle of a rath, a ringfort defined by a bank of earth and stone, resolved itself clearly against the undulating pastureland near Liscoyle, its geometry distinct in a way that can be difficult to appreciate from ground level alone.

Raths are among the most common archaeological monument types in Ireland, with estimates running to tens of thousands of surviving examples. They functioned primarily as enclosed farmsteads during the early medieval period, roughly between the fifth and twelfth centuries, the enclosing bank providing a degree of security for people and livestock. The Liscoyle example is subcircular in plan, measuring approximately 38.5 metres north to south and 36 metres east to west. The enclosing bank survives best along the eastern to southern arc, where it reaches a width of around six metres, with an internal height of 0.9 metres and an external height of 0.55 metres. These are modest but legible dimensions, enough to read the original intention of the structure even in its weathered, present-day state. That the site sits on a prominent rise in the landscape is typical of the type; elevated positions offered both visibility and a degree of natural advantage for the bank itself.