Rath

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RING FORTS / RATHS are one of the most common sites found through out Ireland. They were built in the FOSSE and DITCH method. This means that a piece of land was surrounded by a series of DITCHES which were dug to a considerable depth , (ie.15 / 20ft.,5 / 7mts.) , to create the DITCH, and the spoil ( dug earth ), formed into a FOSSE / EARTHEN flat topped BANK. The most famous of these RATH'S, is of course the HILL of TARA. The Rath / FAIRY FORT was used as a " fortified living area ", for both people and livestock. Some were also used as ceremonial sites, and included BANKED entrances. In some cases these Raths / Ringforts, had underground chambers which were called SOUTERRAIN's, and may have been used as a means of escape / refuge when under attack or FRIDGE'S ( where food could be kept at a constant temperature ). The DITCHES were a formidable means of DEFENSE, as you can see from this example from TARA, and required the movement of many thousands of TONS of earth to complete them. The EXCAVATION of a DITCH will give you some idea of the work involved in their creation. Also note, the people with the ADVANTAGE were those who commanded the higher ground .

DÚN'S were built on either cliff edges, the edge of suitable river banks, or on hill's. Dún Aenghus on the ARRAN Islands of the Clare / Galway coast is an example of another type of FORT / Dún which was constructed entirely from DRY STONE WALLING. This is a FORTIFIED PROMONTORY FORT, built on the edge of a CLIFF FACE, with two, ( 12ft / 4mts. wide, by over 20ft. / 7mts.high ), ENCIRCLING defensive stone walls, with inbuilt STEPPS / RAMPARTS, ( as at Cathair Geal ), leading to the top . On the Land-ward side, they also set out a CHEVAÙX - de - FRISE, i.e. stone and rocks set into the ground, but at all DIFFERENT angles, which made it impossible to attack. There was one passage ( bothaireen ) through all of this apparent JUMBLE, known only to the occupiers, which they could use . The Fort itself , within all of these DEFENSES covered an area of 150ft. / 50mts., and in an area where there were few if any trees, stone was the obvious choice for BUILDING. Staigue Fort near SNEEM was built on a hill in the middle of a secluded valley in the style of Cathair Geal.