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Rath, Coleraine is a early Christian rath situated in the townland of Coleraine, County Londonderry. The monument is protected by the Historic Environment Division under statutory reference 12073. Raths are ringforts, circular or sub-circular enclosed settlements typical of early medieval Ireland and the Irish Sea region, dating from the Early Christian period through the medieval centuries. These domestic and defensive structures comprise one or more banks and ditches surrounding a central courtyard.
The rath lies upon bedrock of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, specifically mafic lava and mafic tuff formed during the Palaeogene period. This distinctive volcanic geology underlying the site reflects the significant geological activity that shaped the north-east of Ireland during this earlier epoch. The Coleraine locality itself has long held importance as a strategic riverine settlement, positioned along the Bann, and early Christian monuments in the area reflect the region's significance during the medieval period.
Though specific features of the Coleraine rath have not been fully documented in available records, the monument remains an important testament to the settlement patterns and social organisation of early Christian communities in Ulster. Such ringforts functioned as the residences of the regional élite and their households, their defensive character reflecting the competitive landscape of early medieval Irish society.
Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 12073. View the official record →
Rath, Coleraine is a early Christian rath situated in the townland of Coleraine, County Londonderry. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 12073.
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 12073.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cashel rock, cashel. large enclosure (3.9 km), Lissatinny. rath (3.9 km), St. adamnan's footprints, giant's track, shane's leap. inauguration stone (4.8 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.