This rath, measuring 18 metres across its interior, consists of a nearly circular earthen enclosure defended by multiple layers of fortification. The site features a central bank, a wide defensive ditch known as a fosse, and an impressive outer bank that still rises 2.5 metres high despite centuries of weathering. A possible entrance can be traced in the south-eastern section, though heavy vegetation now obscures many of the site’s finer details.

The ringfort occupies an elevated position on good agricultural land, a deliberate choice that would have offered both defensive advantages and productive farming opportunities to its original inhabitants. These circular fortified farmsteads were typically home to prosperous farming families between roughly 500 and 1200 AD, serving as both residence and stronghold. The substantial nature of Lissacholly’s defences, with its multiple banks and deep fosse, suggests this was likely the home of a family of some local importance.

Today, nature has largely reclaimed the site, with thick undergrowth making detailed examination challenging. Nevertheless, the earthworks remain remarkably intact, offering visitors a tangible connection to the people who once lived, worked, and raised their families within these protective walls. The ringfort was documented as part of the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, conducted in 1983, which catalogued the county’s rich archaeological heritage from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century.