Rathsoony is a ringfort and national monument located in County Galway, Ireland.[1][2][3]

Rathsoony
Native name
Ráth an tSonnaigh (Irish)
Rathsonny
Rathsoony is located in Ireland
Rathsoony
Location of Rathsoony in Ireland
Typeringfort
LocationMasonbrook, Loughrea,
County Galway, Ireland
Coordinates53°10′52″N 8°30′38″W / 53.181217°N 8.510647°W / 53.181217; -8.510647
Area0.6 ha (1.5 acres)
Elevation124 m (407 ft)
Built1st–9th century AD
Official nameRathsoony
Reference no.499

Location

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Rathsoony is located 4 km (2+12 miles) southeast of Loughrea.[4]

History and description

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Rathsoony is a quadrivallate rath not much raised above the field level, with a central rampart and two fosses with an intervening ring and marked by a sunken way. It also has a souterrain.[5] The Irish name means "Ringfort of the palisade", indicating that it was surrounded by a wall of stakes.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship: Galway" (PDF). National Monuments Service. 4 March 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  2. ^ Spellissy, Sean (1 January 1999). "The history of Galway". Celtic Bookshop – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Spellissy, Sean (1 January 1999). "The history of Galway". Celtic Bookshop – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Rathsonny ringfort masonbrook loughrea". Flickr.com. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  5. ^ Ireland, Royal Society of Antiquaries of (1 January 1920). The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. The Society – via Internet Archive. Rathsonny.
  6. ^ "- Place names of Galway". Places.galwaylibrary.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2019.