Raharney Ringfort facts for kids
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Ráth Fhearna • Ráth Athairne
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 Location in Ireland
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| Location | Raharney, County Westmeath, Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 53°31′18″N 7°06′16″W / 53.521689°N 7.104459°W |
| Altitude | 83 m (272 ft) |
| Type | ringfort |
| Area | 0.17 ha (0.42 acres) |
| Diameter | 39 m (128 ft) |
| Height | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| History | |
| Material | earth |
| Cultures | Gaelic Ireland |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | private |
| Official name | Raherney |
| Reference no. | 572 |
Raharney Ringfort is an ancient circular fort located in County Westmeath, Ireland. It's a special place, protected as a National Monument because of its historical importance. Imagine living in a time when these forts were homes!
Contents
Where is Raharney Ringfort?
You can find Raharney Ringfort just west of the small village of Raharney. It's also located a little south of the main R156.
What is a Ringfort?
Ringforts, also known as raths, were like ancient fortified homes. They were built in Gaelic Ireland long ago, before the year 1170. People lived inside these circular settlements, which were protected by earthen banks and ditches.
The Name of Raharney Ringfort
The name Raharney comes from the Irish language. It might mean Ráth Fhearna, which means "ringfort of alder trees." Or it could be Ráth Athairne, named after a famous mythical poet called Athirne.
What Does it Look Like Today?
Raharney Ringfort is not very big, covering about 0.17 hectares (which is about the size of two football fields). Today, you can see it as a small hill in the middle of a field. It's covered with trees, making it look like a natural part of the landscape.
