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Ballymoney Rath is a raised earthen mound dating to the early Christian period, situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The monument is preserved as a scheduled historic monument under reference 1334 by the Historic Environment Division. This rath represents a form of residence and defensive settlement characteristic of early medieval Ireland, typically constructed between the 5th and 10th centuries.
The mound rises from bedrock formed by Palaeogene mafic lavas and tuffs, ancient volcanic rocks that underlie this part of the north Antrim plateau. This geological foundation would have provided a naturally well-drained foundation for the earthwork's construction. The raised circular or oval platform typical of such sites would have been surmounted by a timber-built dwelling and surrounded by one or more banks and ditches for defence and stock control.
Such raths served as the primary settlement form for the Irish rural elite during the early Christian centuries. Ballymoney's example survives as an important archaeological monument documenting the settlement patterns and social organisation of early medieval Ulster, and remains a notable landscape feature within the townland.
Raised rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 1334. View the official record →
Ballymoney Rath is a raised earthen mound dating to the early Christian period, situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 1334.
Raised rath dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a mound. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Raised rath is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 1334.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Raised rath (or motte?) (2.7 km), Mound, possible motte (3.8 km), Platform rath (3.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Raised rath's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Raised rath stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.