This substantial earthwork consists of a large rectangular enclosure measuring approximately 60 metres from north to south and 30 metres from east to west. The site is defined by what was once an impressive bank, though centuries of weathering and agricultural activity have taken their toll on its original form.

The rath’s defensive features are still partially visible despite the disturbance to the site over time. Along the southern edge, you can make out traces of what archaeologists identify as a fosse; essentially an external ditch that would have provided additional protection to those living within the enclosure. These fosses were common features of Irish raths, serving both as defensive barriers and as sources of material for building up the surrounding banks.

What makes this particular rath interesting is the evidence of its original entrance, which can still be detected at the midpoint of the western bank. This carefully positioned gateway would have controlled access to the enclosed space, suggesting this was more than just a simple farmstead. Raths like this one at Coolmanagh Upper were typically home to prosperous farming families during the early medieval period, roughly from the 5th to 12th centuries, and served as centres of agricultural production and local authority in rural Irish society.