Rathealy Ringfort

Rathealy Ringfort
Ráth Éalaigh (Irish)
Stuaic of Rathealy
Rathealy Ringfort is located in Ireland
Rathealy Ringfort
Location within Ireland
52°41′41″N 7°25′57″W / 52.694722°N 7.432500°W / 52.694722; -7.432500
Typeringfort
PeriodsEarly Christian Ireland
Associated withGaelic Irish
LocationRathealy, Tullaroan, County Kilkenny, Ireland
RegionNore Valley
History
Built6th–12th century
Built bySíol Elaigh
Site notes
Materialearth
Elevation247 m (810 ft)
Height3 m (9.8 ft)
Area0.8 ha (2.0 acres)
Diameter99 m (325 ft)
Public accessyes
Official name
Rathealy
Reference no.376

Rathealy Ringfort is a ringfort (rath) and National Monument located in County Kilkenny, Ireland.[1]

Location

Rathealy Ringfort is located on a hilltop 3.5 km (2.2 mi) north of Tullaroan.

History

Rathealy is believed to derive its name from Élothach mac Fáelchon, king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. There is a surrounding wall 3 m (9.8 ft) high and a ditch 6 m (20 ft) deep.[2] It also known as the Stuaic of Rathealy, the Irish word meaning "peak" or "spike". A standing stone nearby may be pre-Christian.[3]

Description

Rathealy Ringfort is a trivallate rath with a rectangular house, circular house and souterrain entrance clearly visible.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Historic Castles of County Kilkenny Ireland".
  2. ↑ "The Schools' Collection » Tullaroan (B.)". Dúchas.ie. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "Rathealy".
  4. ↑ "The Early Development Of Irish Society". CUP Archive. 6 November 2008 – via Google Books.