Ringfort (Rath), Lissanisky, Co. Longford

Co. Longford |

Ringforts

Ringfort (Rath), Lissanisky, Co. Longford

Between early medieval farmstead and earthwork puzzle, the rath at Lissanisky sits in reclaimed pasture in County Longford, its outline still legible despite centuries of agricultural pressure.

A rath, to use the Irish term for this class of monument, is a roughly circular or oval enclosure defined by a bank and ditch, built primarily during the early medieval period as a defended farmstead for a single family or small community. What survives here is a raised oval platform, measuring approximately 49 metres on its north-east to south-west axis and around 37 metres across, retained by a scarp ranging from 1.2 to 2 metres in height. Beyond that scarp lies an external fosse, a ditch originally dug to reinforce the enclosure's defensive profile, though much of it has silted up and been filled in over time, particularly along the northern and south-eastern arcs.

By 1976, when the site was formally noted in the Sites and Monuments Record, a low outer bank was still visible on the southern side, suggesting the enclosure may once have had a more complex defensive arrangement than its present condition implies. That outer bank has since become difficult to distinguish. The original entrance point, which in many raths takes the form of a gap in the bank or a causeway across the fosse, is no longer recognisable on the ground. The gentle north-easterly slope on which the rath sits is typical of such sites; early medieval farmers across Ireland favoured well-drained, moderately elevated ground with good visibility over the surrounding land.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Ringfort (Rath), Lissanisky, Co. Longford. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement