Raharney Ringfort

Raharney Ringfort
Ráth Fhearna • Ráth Athairne
Shown within Ireland
Location Raharney, County Westmeath, Ireland
Coordinates 53°31′18″N 7°06′16″W / 53.521689°N 7.104459°W / 53.521689; -7.104459Coordinates: 53°31′18″N 7°06′16″W / 53.521689°N 7.104459°W / 53.521689; -7.104459
Altitude 83 m (272 ft)
Type ringfort
Area 0.17 ha (0.42 acres)
Diameter 39 m (128 ft)
Height 3 m (9.8 ft)
History
Material earth
Cultures Gaelic Ireland
Site notes
Ownership private
Official name Raherney
Reference 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.

References

  1. "Recorded Monuments" (PDF). Archaeology.ie. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  2. "Ráth Fhearna/Raharney". Logainm.ie. 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  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 2016-09-10.
  4. Joyce, Patrick Weston (1 January 1871). "The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places". McGlashan & Gill. Retrieved 2016-09-10 via Google Books.
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