Here I am doing a wee exploration of the Rath or Fort or Ring Fort found in the Castlereagh hill fields at the back of our house. I have dandered round raths or ringforts before but up until today I had never investigated the one on my doorstep! lol
When I was growing up as a lad in Banbridge Co Down my dad used to take us children all over the local countryside, to explore lakes, rivers, forests, dolmens etc and the local wild life. He used to point out the raths or ringforts on the hilltops and many a time we would walk up round them.

My good friend Reg over there in Wales pointed out that it's interesting to note the many local
N Ireland places that are named after RATHS
Rathlin Island
Rathfriland
Rathmore
Rathgael
Moneyrath & others.
Anymore anyone?

Raths or ring forts are small circular fortified settlements built during the Bronze Age, Iron Age and early Middle Ages up to about the year 1000 AD. They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland.
Ringforts or raths come in many sizes and may be made of stone or earth. Earthen ringforts would have been marked by a circular rampart (a bank and ditch), often with a circular wall of protective posts. Both stone and earthen ringforts would generally have had at least one building inside. They were family and extended family enclosures offering a degree of safety to those living there especially at night. Animal livestock would also be brought in behind the wall of posts and stakes at night.
During those centuries the land of Ireland was not a safe place for anyone. Cattle raids were very common. Raids were also made to seize women and young men for slaves from other areas. So it was wise to live in a defended farmhouse in a rath or ringfort.