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Rath is an early Christian rath situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The monument occupies ground underlain by Palaeogene extrusive rocks—mafic lavas and tuffs that form part of the ancient volcanic geology characteristic of the Antrim plateau. This bedrock foundation reflects the landscape's dramatic geological history, when intense volcanic activity shaped the terrain that would later support early medieval settlement.
Raths were the principal residential and defensive structures of Irish society from the Iron Age through the early medieval period. Typically comprising one or more circular earthen banks with internal ditches, they served as homesteads for farming families and their livestock, while also providing protection during periods of conflict. The early Christian date assigned to this rath indicates it remained in use during the period when Christianity was becoming established in Ireland, possibly serving a Christian family or community.
The monument is protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 4037, recognising its significance as evidence of early medieval settlement patterns and land use in Antrim. The site's location on volcanic bedrock demonstrates how early Christian communities adapted to and utilised the varied geology of the region, building their defensive and domestic structures across diverse terrain.
Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 4037. View the official record →
Rath is an early Christian rath situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 4037.
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 4037.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Donald's mound. mound - burial mound? (7.4 km), Platform rath (part of rath complex) (7.9 km), Pair of counterscarp raths (part of rath complex) (7.9 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.