Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRingfort - rath
- Recorded sizediameter 29.8m ENE-WSW; 28m NNW-SSE
- StatusNational Monument
What to look for
- Bank and ditch
- Entrance gap
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
National Monument No. 155. Described in 1976 as ‘a roughly circular area (diam. 29.8m ENE-WSW; 28m NNW-SSE) enclosed by a low earth and stone bank with trees growing on it.
Full archaeological record 210 words
National Monument No. 155. Described in 1976 as ‘a roughly circular area (diam. 29.8m ENE-WSW; 28m NNW-SSE) enclosed by a low earth and stone bank with trees growing on it. There is a stream and field boundary to the N. The bank has a slight inner crest on N-NE and is surrounded by a fosse , shallow but fairly wide (rock cut) on NE-E. On the SW and W the fosse is barely visible but here there is a slight indication of a low counterscarp outer bank. Probable entrance (original) gap (Wth 2.5-5m) on the E. Within the interior there is a considerable amount of stone most of which appears to be the natural limestone outcropping but there are traces though vague of a possible stone structure. A very large limestone slab is visible in the SW quadrant and beside and under this there is evidence of recent digging. The interior slopes slightly from E to W. Macalister suggests that this may be the ecclesiastical site mentioned in the legends but the evidence does not support this’ (SMR File 23/04/1976). Ordnance Survey Fair Plan map depicts a ‘fort’ and shows a small rectangular ruin marked in red ink just N of centre in the interior of the enclosure (SMR File).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Caimin O'Brien · Updated 26 January 2016. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
The interior slopes slightly from E to W. Macalister suggests that this may be the ecclesiastical site mentioned in the legends but the evidence does not support this’ (SMR File 23/04/1976).
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Around Hill of Uisneach
Other heritage nearby
- St Brigids WellHoly well · 1.2 km
- Bride's WellHoly well · 9.7 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 146 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 22 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 10 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Mullingar Cycle Hub Loop 2Road Cycling Trail · 47.7 km · nearest point 4.7 km
- Westmeath WayLong Distance Waymarked Way · 28.4 km · nearest point 7.2 km
- Mullingar Cycle Hub Loop 3Road Cycling Trail · 38.5 km · nearest point 8.1 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Lilliput, Lough EnnellBeaches · 9.5 km · Good Quality (2025)
- Portnashangan, Lough OwelBeaches · 16 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Scragh Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 17 km
- Clara Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 19 km
Other attractions nearby
- Sacred Sites - Uisneach ToursWalking · 0.6 km
- Lilliput Adventure CentreWalking · 9.4 km
What's on nearby
- The Last Wake at Doory Hall2026-11-06 · 17 km
- An Tairseach: Samhain ar Uisneach2026-11-07 · 0.2 km
- An Tairseach: Samhain ar Uisneach2026-11-08 · 0.2 km

