For those who have requested the explanation of vallum of a rath. I found it very interesting. Jeanne (Maine USA) Dear Jeanne A rath was a homestead usually of someone of importance within the community. The vallum was the raised earthwork platform on which the rath once stood. It is generally all that's left and is often wrongly called a rath. If there's indication of a graveyard then either the rath falls inside a later graveyard or the vallum itself has been later used as a graveyard. There is a vallum less than quarter of a mile from my home which is known locally as the "Fairy Rath". This one is a raised level earthwork platform between about three to five feet in height feet in height owing to the slope of the land it stands on with a steep dry stone wall built up all around acting as a retaining wall for the platform. It is almost circular and covers about a half to two thirds of an acre but of course they vary in size. It is placed in an incredibly strategic position which one can only appreciate by being there. You can see for miles in all directions. According to superstition these are the places where the unwary are supposed to be kidnapped by fairies and not released until their family and friends are either dead or very old. The person kidnapped on the other hand hasn't aged a day. Mary Newsome (Co.Wexford)