© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)
Ballymoney Rath is a raised rath, an earthen mound of early Christian date situated in County Antrim. The monument consists of an artificially elevated platform, a characteristic defensive and residential settlement form of early medieval Ireland. Such raths typically date between the fifth and twelfth centuries, functioning as the strongholds of local lords and their retinues, though many were continuously occupied across longer periods.
The rath stands on bedrock of the Lough Neagh Clays Group, Oligocene deposits of clay and lignite that dominate much of the surrounding landscape in this region. The clay-rich geology would have presented particular challenges and opportunities for the monument's construction, as the impermeable soil conditions would have aided in creating the raised platform whilst also affecting drainage around the settlement. The choice to elevate the structure deliberately reflects the practical concerns of early Christian communities in managing water and defending their territories.
The monument is protected by the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities, registered under reference 1342, ensuring its preservation as evidence of early medieval settlement patterns and social organisation in northern Ulster. The rath remains a significant archaeological resource for understanding the distribution and character of elite settlements across the region during the early Christian period.
Raised rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 1342. View the official record →
Ballymoney Rath is a raised rath, an earthen mound of early Christian date situated in County Antrim. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 1342.
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 1342.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Mound - round barrow? (0.4 km), Mound - barrow? (1.7 km), Platform rath (1.9 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 Lough Neagh Clays Group, bedrock that formed in the Oligocene. The rock here is clay and lignite.