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Rath at Coleraine is a early Christian ringfort, a common settlement form across Ireland during the early medieval period. The site is situated on bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks—mafic lava and tuff formed during the Paleogene epoch—which underlie the area around Coleraine. This volcanic geology would have shaped the nature of available building stone and the character of the surrounding landscape during the rath's occupation.
Ringforts such as this typically comprised a circular or oval enclosure defended by one or more earthen banks, often accompanied by an outer ditch. They served as homesteads and administrative centres for farming communities and petty lords. The internal space would have housed domestic structures and provided shelter for livestock. These monuments are among the most numerous archaeological features in Ireland, with thousands recorded across the island.
The Rath at Coleraine is protected as a scheduled monument by the Historic Environment Division under reference 11536, recognising its significance as evidence of early Christian settlement patterns in north-east Ireland. The site remains a visible reminder of the region's medieval rural economy and social organisation during a formative period in Irish history.
Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 11536. View the official record →
Rath at Coleraine is a early Christian ringfort, a common settlement form across Ireland during the early medieval period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 11536.
Rath dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a rath. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
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 11536.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rath (0.8 km), Standing stone (2.9 km), Duncethirn, lungern, sconce hill, giant's sconce, dunceithirn. rock fortification (3.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of 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.
Rath stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.