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Rath — a e.christ. is an early Christian rath situated near Coleraine in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Raths are small ringforts characterised by one or more circular banks and ditches enclosing a residential area, typically dating between the Iron Age and medieval period. This example stands on bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks—mafic lavas and tuffs formed during intense volcanic activity in the Paleogene epoch, some 56 to 66 million years ago. The volcanic geology underlying the site would have affected drainage and soil formation across the rath's footprint.
Early Christian raths often functioned as farmsteads or minor aristocratic residences, their circular defences providing both practical protection and a visible statement of status within the local community. The monument's location in the Coleraine area, an area rich in archaeological remains, suggests it formed part of a wider settlement pattern in early medieval Ulster.
The site is protected as a scheduled historic monument under the Historic Environment Division's designation 11603, recognising its archaeological significance and the potential it holds for understanding settlement and society in early Christian Ireland.
Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 11603. View the official record →
Rath — a e.christ. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 11603.
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 11603.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Macosquin, merchant taylors' buildings. plantation village site with mill, house & bawn (1.4 km), Piper's hill. long mound (2 km), Counterscarp rath (4.4 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.