THE TOWNLAND OF RATHCONVIL

The townland of Rathconvil is in the parish of Loughgilly in Armagh County.
It is not shown on the map.

Paterson (Armachiana, Vol. 16, p.25) notes:

…Rath, lis, etc. denote ringed enclosures and in their various forms are
common throughout the county…
Rathconvil – Conwell’s rath or fort.

The Environment and Heritage Service Sites and Monuments Record (2002) notes
the following in this townland:

Rath from the Early Christian Period.
SMR NO: ARM 017:020
GRIDREF: J02123840
CONDITION: SOME REMAINS
“An impressive circular earthwork on the summit of a drumlin. The interior
is slightly raised and enclosed by a bank. This is 4.3m wide x 1.2m high except
on the S where it is 2.4m high. The bank is interrupted by narrow gaps on
E & W. Either or both of these may be original, & the E one shows traces of
stone revetment on its N side. The site measures 49m across. A shallow ditch
runs round the W & S sides. Persistent trampling by cattle has obscured the
berm recorded in the 1 960s. See SM7 for further details. BIBLIOGRAPHY: PSAMNI
1940, 71”

Rath from the Early Christian Period.
SMR NO: ARM 017:021
GRIDREF: J02263812
CONDITION: SOME REMAINS
“The 1863 OS 6″ map shows a large circular earthwork, but little of this
survives. A curved field boundary has helped the W perimeter, but most of
the E half has been graded into the hillslope. The interior seems to have
been cut into the hillside to create a level platform c.41 m across. This
is defined on the W by a steep scarp falling 1.8m to the base of a ditch 4m
wide & c.1.2m deep. On the uphill side the ditch is only 1m deep below the
interior. See SM7 file for further details.”

PRONI records: OS/6/2/17/1 (Surveyed 1835. Engraved 1835.); OS/6/2/17/2 (Surveyed
1835. Engraved 1835. Revised 1860. Engraved 1863.); OS/6/2/17/3 (Surveyed 1835.
Revised 1906. Published 1908. Reprinted 1929, 1932.); OS/6/2/17/4 (Surveyed
1906. Revised 1954-5. Levelled 1889, 1892 and 1906. Published 1958 (2 copies).);
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/219 (1st valuation records.);
VAL/12B/15/10A, VAL/12B/15/23A, VAL/12B/15/23B, VAL/12B/15/23C, VAL/12B/15/23D,
VAL/12B/15/23E (Valuation annual revision list.); VAL/2B/2/34A (Griffith valuation
list.).