Lisnamintry Rath

 

Dating from 500 - 1000 AD a rath was a homestead, surrounded by a ditch and a wooden fence which protected the inhabitants but also acted as an enclosure for the animals.

At Lisnamintry the pattern of ridges, mounds and trenches along with the position and density of hedges suggest a second entrance proving that this was a site of major importance.

Although there are over 45,000 ring forts throughout Ireland they fell out of use around the beginning of the 2nd millennium due to the struggle for power and territory across the island, their locations were well chosen and as can be seen churches were often built on the same site.