E.CHRIST. · RATH

Rath

Castlereagh, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 5453
Period
E.CHRIST.
Site type
RATH
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)

Overview

History & significance

Rath is a prehistoric circular earthwork located in Castlereagh, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The monument consists of a raised circular platform defined by an enclosing bank and ditch, a form characteristic of Irish raths that typically date to the Early Christian period, though such sites often have earlier Iron Age origins. Raths served as defended residential enclosures for high-status families and functioned as centres of local authority within their territories. The earthwork represents a common settlement type across medieval Ireland, reflecting patterns of land use and social organisation that persisted from the Iron Age through the medieval period.

Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 5453. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Rath?

Rath is a prehistoric circular earthwork located in Castlereagh, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 5453.

What period does Rath date from?

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.

Who is responsible for protecting Rath?

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 5453.

What other scheduled monuments are near Rath?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ballymalady mound. motte (1 km), Motte (2.1 km), Trivallate rath (2.4 km).

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