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Rath — a e.christ. rath is an early Christian Irish fortified residence situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The monument occupies land underlain by Palaeogene extrusive rocks, the felsic lavas and tuffs that form part of the distinctive volcanic geology of the region. This geological foundation has shaped the landscape in which the rath was constructed and occupied.
Raths of this period typically comprised one or more circular or oval enclosures defined by banks and ditches, serving as defended homesteads for families of rank within early Christian Irish society. The early Christian phase of such monuments generally dates from the fifth to tenth centuries, representing a continuity of settlement tradition that extended back into the Iron Age. These sites functioned as the centres of local territories and farming economies.
The monument is protected as a scheduled historic monument by the Historic Environment Division under reference number 2984. Its survival as an earthwork in the Antrim landscape contributes to understanding of early medieval settlement patterns and social hierarchy in Ulster. The site's preservation allows for the continued study of this important phase of Irish cultural development.
Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2984. View the official record →
Rath — a e.christ. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2984.
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 2984.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Raised rath (7.6 km), Mound - raised rath? (7.7 km), Rath and motte (8.1 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 felsic lava and felsic tuff.