Rathvilly Moat is a motte[2] and National Monument located in County Carlow, Ireland.[3]

Rathvilly Moat
Ráth Bhile
Knockroe-Rathvilly Motte
Rathvilly Moat is located in Ireland
Rathvilly Moat
Shown within Ireland
LocationKnockroe, Rathvilly,
County Carlow, Ireland
Coordinates52°52′50″N 6°40′41″W / 52.880518°N 6.678045°W / 52.880518; -6.678045
TypeMotte
Diameter29 metres (32 yd)
History
MaterialEarth
PeriodsEarly Christian Ireland
DesignationNational Monument
Official nameRathvilly Moat
Reference no.603[1]

Location edit

Rathvilly Moat is located in the townland of Knockroe about 1 km east of Rathvilly village, east of the River Slaney.

History and archaeology edit

The moat of Rathvilly was the residence of Crimthann mac Énnai, an Uí Cheinnselaig King of Leinster, who reigned c. 443–483 and was baptised by Saint Patrick.[4][5] The placename means "ringfort of the sacred tree"; a bile was sacred to a certain family or ancestral group, and destroying an enemy clan's bile was a common act of war.

References edit

  1. ^ "National Monuments of County Carlow in State Care" (PDF). heritageireland.ie. National Monument Service. p. 1. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow". Page 78. Dublin 1993
  3. ^ "Mullach Raoileann/Mullaghreelan". Logainm.ie.
  4. ^ "Rathvilly - Carlow Tourism". 13 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Novena St Patrick's Church Rathvilly | KandLe". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2015.