Castle - ringwork, Aghavoneen, Co. Westmeath
Castle - ringwork, Aghavoneen, Co. Westmeath
This circular earthwork, measuring approximately 27 metres in diameter, is defined by a steep scarp that creates a formidable defensive position. A distinctive berm, roughly 3 to 5 metres wide, runs along much of the perimeter from the northeast round to the northwest, creating a terrace between the inner and outer scarps. The interior space remains uneven, suggesting various phases of use or deterioration over the centuries.
What makes this site particularly intriguing is its possible companion feature; about 22 metres to the east-northeast lies what appears to be a detached bailey, connected to the main ringwork by a short, low ridge. This arrangement was typical of Norman fortifications in Ireland, where the ringwork served as the principal defensive structure whilst the bailey provided additional protected space for buildings and activities. The Ordnance Survey maps from different periods offer varying interpretations of the site, with the 1910 revision showing it as a suboval earthwork with a rectilinear projection, whilst earlier mapping suggested it might represent two separate ringforts.
Today, the monument appears as a tree-planted oval earthwork, clearly visible on aerial photography. The debate over its original purpose continues; it could represent either a Norman ringwork and bailey complex or possibly the remains of two earlier Irish ringforts that were later adapted. This uncertainty reflects the complex layers of occupation and fortification that characterise many Irish archaeological sites, where successive cultures built upon and modified existing structures to suit their needs.