Rathra

Also known as:
Rathbarna
Nearest town:
Castlerea (4km W)
OS reference:
M720785
OS sheets:
39, 40
Latitude:
53° 45' 19.21 N
Longitude:
8° 25' 28.36 W
Added to TMA by

Sites within Rathra

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location_on photo ondemand_video forum description link ​

Images

Image of Rathra (Hillfort) by bawn79

This stone has an unusual fossil in the bottom left and also looks somewhere between a bullaun stone and a sile na gig.

Image credit: Bawn79 © 2011
bawn79
bawn79 Jan 9, 2011
Image of Rathra (Hillfort) by bawn79

Fossiled markings on this very unusual stone.

Image credit: Bawn79 © 2011
bawn79
bawn79 Jan 9, 2011
Image of Rathra (Hillfort) by bawn79

Pond at field stile from the road. I wonder is this a ritual pond similar to at Emain Macha.

Image credit: Bawn79 © 2011
bawn79
bawn79 Jan 9, 2011
Image of Rathra (Hillfort) by bawn79

The ramparts outward from on top of the mound.

Image credit: Bawn79 © 2011
bawn79
bawn79 Jan 9, 2011
Image of Rathra (Hillfort) by bawn79

“Entrance” of fort – the bronze age mound can also be seen.

Image credit: Bawn79 © 2011
bawn79
bawn79 Jan 9, 2011
Image of Rathra (Hillfort) by bawn79

Waterlogged section of the quad-villate ramparts.

Image credit: Bawn79 © 2011
bawn79
bawn79 Jan 9, 2011

Articles

Rathra

bawn79
bawn79 Jan 9, 2011

This hillfort is a couple of miles from Castlerea in Roscommon. The “fort” has 4 ditches and has two mounds within it. They are thought to be bronze age burial mounds and as such Rathra is thought to be a ritual monument. The is another huge mound to the east (which for some reason I didnt take a photo of) which is a possible passage mound.
It is a highly impressive monument and difficult to photograph but well worth a visit. There is a sign into the field where it stands and a stile so there doesnt seem to be any problem with access.
I also saw a very unusual stone within the complex. This stone looked to me like a cross between a sile na gig and a bullaun stone. What is even of more interest was the unusual fossil in one “leg” of it. I wonder was this some kind of inaugeration stone and if anyone has any more information on it.

Some links to further info on Rathra.

books.google.ie/books?id=PNDdQvdFQfsC&pg=PA140&dq=rathra&hl=en&ei=Tx8qTbSCGZKzhAec1tzDAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=rathra&f=false

books.google.ie/books?id=LAvsu0vr-vMC&pg=PA238&dq=rathra&hl=en&ei=wiQqTb75LtSJhQffn7zoAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=rathra&f=false

Sites within 20km of Rathra

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