Ringfort (Rath), Mellon, Co. Limerick

Co. Limerick |

Ringforts

Ringfort (Rath), Mellon, Co. Limerick

A low rise in a Limerick pasture holds something that most walkers would pass without a second glance, yet the ground itself tells a careful story.

What looks like an uneven field on the townland of Mellon is in fact a ringfort, or rath, a type of enclosed circular settlement that was the most common form of rural habitation in early medieval Ireland, typically built between roughly 500 and 1000 AD. Thousands survive across the island in varying states of preservation, and this one sits quietly among them, its modest earthworks still legible if you know what to look for.

The site, recorded by Denis Power and uploaded to the national record in August 2011, occupies the top of a low hill with panoramic views across the surrounding landscape. Its roughly circular interior measures approximately 25 metres north to south and just over 25 metres east to west. An earthen bank defines the northern and eastern arc, rising about 0.6 metres on the interior face and just over a metre on the exterior, which is the more substantial side as would be expected of a defensive or enclosing feature. From the south-east around to the north-north-east, the enclosure is instead defined by a scarped edge, essentially a deliberately cut slope in the ground, which stands around 0.4 metres high and 1.7 metres wide. This scarp is best preserved along its south-south-west to west-south-west stretch, though it dips and loses definition for roughly six metres toward the west. The bank is scattered with field stones and wood debris, and a modern field boundary butts up against it at the south-east, a boundary recent enough that it does not appear on the 1923 Ordnance Survey six-inch map. Inside, the ground under pasture dips noticeably toward the centre, a subtle hollow that may hint at long-disturbed features beneath the surface.

The site sits in working farmland, so access would depend on the landowner's permission. The earthworks are low and unspectacular by any dramatic measure, but the hilltop position means the view outward is reward enough for the walk. The scarp section along the southern arc is the most legible part of the monument on the ground, and the interior dip becomes easier to read when the light falls obliquely across the field, particularly in the lower sun of morning or late afternoon. Field stones along the bank are worth noting but should be left undisturbed.

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), Mellon, Co. Limerick. 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