Crossoona Rath (Irish: Ráth Chrois Uaithne [ˈɾˠaːh xɾˠɔʃ ˈuənʲə]) is a ringfort located in County Wicklow, Ireland. Together with a nearby ogham stone, it forms a National Monument.
Ráth Chrois Uaithne | |
  Shown within Ireland | |
| Location | Boleycarrigeen, Kilranelagh, County Wicklow, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Region | Wicklow Mountains |
| Coordinates | 52°56′39″N 6°36′51″W / 52.944262°N 6.614062°W |
| Altitude | 302 m (991 ft) |
| Type | ringfort and ogham stone |
| Area | 0.41 ha (1.0 acre) |
| Diameter | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Height | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) |
| History | |
| Material | earth |
| Cultures | Gaelic Ireland |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Grogan and Kilfeather |
| Ownership | private |
| Official name | Crossoona Rath |
| Reference no. | 418[1] |
Location
editCrossoona Rath is located on the SE face of Kilranelagh Hill, near two tributaries of the Slaney and 6.5 km (4.0 mi) east of Baltinglass.
History
editCrossoona Rath is believed to have been the dwelling of several (semi)historical figures of the first millennium AD:
- Eochaid Doimlén of Ráth Imáil, first-century King of Leinster lived near the Glen of Imaal
- Buchet, hero of the 10th-century tale Esnada Tige Buchet ("The Melodies of Buchet's House"), is believed to have lived "at or near the present Kilranelagh House" on Kilranelagh Hill
- Rónán mac Aed, in the literary-historical fiction Fingal Rónáin ("The Kinslaying of Ronan"), lived at or near Kilranelagh Hill
Crossoona Rath is a likely home for at least some of these people: it is a spacious enclosure situated on the southeast slope of the hill and is protected from the weather on the north and west by the bulk of the hill, on the north by the higher Spinans Hill, and on the east by the higher Keadeen Mountain.
Description
editCrossoona Rath is roughly circular and is defined by an earth and stone bank and external moat, with outer bank to the south. Foundations of two stone structures are in the northwest part.[2]
Ogham stone
editThe ogham stone (CIIC 50) is located inside the rath and has been dated to AD 400–500 and reads ᚛ᚃᚑᚈᚔ᚜ (VOTI or FOTI), possibly the genitive of a personal name Votas or Votus, or maybe related to the Irish words foth ("law, claim, right") or fotha ("base, foundation").[3]
References
edit- ^ "National Monuments of County Wicklow in State Care" (PDF). heritageireland.ie. National Monument Service. p. 1. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "Ogham in 3D - Wicklow / 50. Boleycarrigeen".
- ^ "Boleycarrigeen Ogham StoneE". Megalithic Monuments of Ireland.