The site, catalogued as RO032-033001, has long been associated with tales of a former castle, a connection that likely stems from the townland’s rather suggestive name. While no stone fortification stands today, the earthen remains continue to fuel speculation about what might have once crowned this spot.

Raths, or ring forts, are among Ireland’s most common archaeological features; thousands dot the countryside, most dating from the early medieval period between 500 and 1000 AD. These circular earthworks, typically consisting of a bank and ditch enclosing a raised area, served as fortified homesteads for farming families. The Castlequarter example follows this typical pattern, though local tradition has embellished its history with grander architectural aspirations.

The persistence of castle legends at rath sites isn’t unusual in Irish folklore. Communities often attributed these ancient earthworks to more recent medieval structures, perhaps finding it easier to imagine Norman towers than the thatched roundhouses that actually stood within these enclosures. As documented by researcher Gannon in 1972, the Castlequarter rath exemplifies this tendency; its prosaic earthen banks transformed by local memory into the foundations of something altogether more romantic. Whether any castle ever stood here remains unproven, but the story itself has become part of the site’s archaeological record, compiled by Michael Moore in August 2010.