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Rath — a e.christ. rath is an early Christian earthwork monument located near Dungannon in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Raths of this period typically comprised circular or oval defensive enclosures formed by one or more banks and ditches, serving as farmsteads or settlement centres. The monument sits on bedrock of the Tyrone Group, a Visean-age formation of limestone, mudstone, sandstone and siltstone interspersed with chert, coal and conglomerate, which would have influenced both the construction techniques and the drainage characteristics of the enclosure.
The site occupies grid reference H7265046200 and is protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 15972, reflecting its significance as part of the early Christian settlement pattern in the region. Such raths typically date between the fifth and ninth centuries and served as the domestic and economic centres of small farming communities throughout Ireland.
The Dungannon landscape, situated in the heart of the historic Úi Néill territories, would have been particularly significant during the early Christian period. The local geology, with its variable stone and clay deposits, would have shaped the construction and preservation of the earthwork, while the surrounding terrain provided both agricultural land and strategic positioning for this important class of monument.
Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 15972. View the official record →
Rath — a e.christ. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 15972.
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 15972.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Tynan well cross. tynan well cross (4.7 km), Tynan terrace cross. tynan terrace cross (5.1 km), Tynan island cross. high cross (5.5 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 Tyrone Group, bedrock that formed in the Visean. The rock here is limestone, mudstone, sandstone and siltstone, with subordinate chert, coal and conglomerate.