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

Raharney Ringfort
Ráth Fhearna • Ráth Athairne
Raharney Ringfort is located in Ireland
Raharney Ringfort
Shown within Ireland
LocationRaharney, County Westmeath, Ireland
Coordinates53°31′18″N 7°06′16″W / 53.521689°N 7.104459°W / 53.521689; -7.104459
Altitude83 m (272 ft)
Typeringfort
Area0.17 ha (0.42 acres)
Diameter39 m (128 ft)
Height3 m (9.8 ft)
History
Materialearth
CulturesGaelic Ireland
Site notes
Ownershipprivate
Official nameRaherney
Reference no.572

Location edit

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

History edit

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 edit

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 edit

  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.