Ringforts



Ringforts are one of the most common ancient monuments in Ireland. A ringfort is roughly circular in shape and enclosed by either a rampart of stone, of earth and stone and sometimes of earth alone. These forts were essentially farmsteads and within the walls stood one or more houses of wood or stone. They were usually rectangular or circular in plan, with thatched roofs and the people who lived there were farmers.
     Ringforts are known by several Irish terms including, lios, rath, cathair, caiseal and dún. Many place names today refer to a ringfort in the area. The terms rath and lios are usually used when talking about earthen forts whereas the terms cathair and dún usually refer to stone forts. The townland of Ballinasheen in Kilkeedy can be translated as the "town of the little fort". These ringforts were occupied and lived in for a very long time and even existed into the middle ages.



Ringfort