Hillfort, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
Perched atop a hill in Rathmichael, County Dublin, lies the remains of an ancient hillfort that once commanded sweeping views across the surrounding landscape.
Hillfort, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
This substantial fortification consists of a large oval enclosure, stretching approximately 140 metres from north to south and 120 metres from east to west. The site is defined by a low earthen and stone bank, accompanied by a narrow V-shaped ditch that measures about 1.6 metres wide and 0.4 metres deep. Whilst time and human activity have taken their toll on the western, northern, and eastern sections, the southwestern and southern portions remain the best preserved, where the bank still stands at roughly 3.3 metres wide and 0.6 metres high, merging seamlessly with a modern field boundary.
What makes this hillfort particularly intriguing is its construction technique and current state of preservation. The bank features an external stone facing crafted from shattered stone fragments, which now lie scattered across the hilltop like pieces of an ancient puzzle waiting to be reassembled. Archaeological surveys have revealed that this defensive structure wasn’t the only fortification on the hill; within its interior sits a univallate ringfort, catalogued as DU026-048002, suggesting this location held strategic importance across multiple periods of occupation.
The site has captured the attention of historians and archaeologists for well over a century, with documentation dating back to 1900. Various scholars, including Healy in 1975 and Turner in 1983, have studied and recorded the hillfort’s features, contributing to our understanding of Iron Age and early medieval defensive structures in Ireland. Today, visitors can still trace the outline of this ancient stronghold and imagine the communities who once sought protection within its earthen walls, making it a fascinating destination for those interested in Ireland’s prehistoric and early historic landscapes.
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Pete
Anon. 1900 Excursion to Tully, Rathmichael, Kiltiernan and other places in south County Dublin. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 30, 180-92.
Healy, P. 1975a Second report on monuments and sites of archaeological interest in county Dublin. An Foras Forbartha Teoranta.
Healy, P. 1975b Third report on monuments and sites of archaeological interest in county Dublin. An Foras Forbartha, Dublin.
Turner, K. 1983 If you seek monuments: a guide to the antiquities of the barony of Rathdown. Rathmichael Historical Society.
Anon. 1900 Proceedings. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 10, no. 4, 388-450.