THE TOWNLAND OF LISRAW
The townland of Lisraw is in the parish of Ballymore in Armagh County. It is
labelled number 34 on the map.
Paterson (Armachiana, Vol. 16, p.25) notes:
…Rath, lis, etc. denote ringed enclosures [‘rath’ or ‘fort’] and in their
various forms are common throughout the county…
The Environment and Heritage Service Sites and Monuments Record (2002) notes the following in this townland:
-
Rath & Souterrain of the Early Christian Period.
SMR NO: ARM 018:010
Irish Grid Reference: J04444043
Sitename: LISRAW
Townland: LISRAW
CONDITION: substantial remains
The raised interior of this rath slopes down to SE & is enclosed by an earthen bank. This is most impressive on the NW side where is stands c.2m above the interior. Elsewhere it is c.1 m high. Against the inside on the N there is a level rectangular terrace, possibly a platform for a structure or structures. Alternatively it might be the result of quarrying. The site is 46.5m N-S x 49-5m E-W. From the top of the bank a scarp falls 6m to the base of a ditch 3m deep below an external bank. See SM7 for details.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
O. S. FIELD REPORT NO.51, 12
PATERSON, T. G. F. NOTES Vol. 134, 86
S. A. R. C. NOTEBOOKS Vol. 3, 24-25
Rath of the Early Christian Period.
SMR NO: ARM 018:017
Irish Grid Reference: J04893979
Townland: LISRAW
CONDITION: traces only
An oval “Fort” c.50m NE-SW x 50m NW-SE is shown on the 1835 OS 6″ map but but the time of the 1863 edition only a “Site of Fort” is recorded. Only faint traces of a low platform survive. The S side can no longer be traced & on the W only a hint of a scarp can be seen. A field boundary has cut across the curve of the site to N & only on NE may part of the original perimeter have survived. Here there is a low bank 2m wide, 0.5m above the interior & 1.7m above the base of a ditch which forms the t’land boundary.
PRONI records: OS/6/2/18/1 (Surveyed 1835. Engraved 1835.); OS/6/2/18/2 (Surveyed 1835. Engraved 1835. Revised 1860. Engraved 1863.); OS/6/2/18/3 (Surveyed 1835. Revised 1906. Published 1908.); OS/6/2/18/4 (Surveyed 1835. Revised 1906. Published 1908. (2 copies – 1st a reprint 1930, 1933 and 2nd reprint 1933, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1955.); OS/6/2/18/5 (Surveyed 1906. Revised 1954-5. Levelled 1892, 1901-2, 1904 and 1906. Published 1958 (2 copies).); VAL/1B/214 (1st valuation records.); VAL/12B/15/23D, VAL/12B/15/23E (Valuation annual revision list.); VAL/2B/2/32C (Griffith valuation list.); VAL/12B/15/23A, VAL/12B/15/23B, VAL/12B/15/23C (Valuation annual revision list.).
