THE TOWNLAND OF RATHCARBRY

The townland of Rathcarbry is in the parish of Loughgilly in Armagh County. It is labelled number 41 on the map.

Ordnance Survey Memoirs 1835-38 note:

"The last 12 townlands form the parish of Balleek, a perpetual cure in the endowment of the rector of Loughgilly, the whole of which pays cess to the church in Carrickananny townland called Balleek church, but the following 4 townlands continue to pay tythe to Loughgilly parish: Lisadian, Rathcarbery, Drumherriff, Tullya."

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

...Rath, lis, etc. denote ringed enclosures and in their various forms are common throughout the county...
Rathcarbry - Carbry's rath or fort.

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

Enclosure of uncertain period
SMR NO: ARM 022: 007
Irish Grid Reference: J02473104
Townland: Rathcarbry
CONDITION: traces only
A circular enclosure c.44m in diam., planted with trees is shown on the OS 6" map of 1908. It appears to have been surrounded a small natural knoll on a W-facing slope. The only surviving portion is a short length of the W perimeter where a length of field bank & a steep scarp falling c.2m can be seen. There is nothing now to indicate that there was an antiquity & the way the interior rises steeply from the W makes it seem unlikely. However, reports from 1960s were more confident that this was a rath.

PRONI records: OS/6/2/21/1 (Surveyed 1834-35. Engraved 1835.); OS/6/2/21/2 (Surveyed 1834-35. Engraved 1835. Revised 1860. Revisions engraved 1863.); OS/6/2/21/3 (Surveyed 1834-35. Revised 1906. Published 1908. Reprinted 1921.); OS/6/2/21/4 (Surveyed 1834-35. Revised 1906. Published 1908. (2 copies), Reprints 1934-1957.); OS/6/2/21/5 (Surveyed 1906. Revised 1955. Levelled 1889 and 1906. Published 1958.); OS/6/2/22/1 (Surveyed 1835. Engraved 1835.); OS/6/2/22/2 (Surveyed 1835. Engraved 1835. Revised 1861. Engraved 1863.); OS/6/2/22/3 (Surveyed 1835. Revised 1906. Published 1908 (2 copies - 1 reprint 1930 and 1 reprint 1930-1955.).); OS/6/2/22/4 (Surveyed 1906. Revised 1955. Levelled 1889 and 1906. Published 1959 (2 copies).); VAL/1B/219 (1st valuation records.); VAL/12B/15/24A (Valuaton annual revision list.); VAL/12B/15/24B, VAL/12B/15/24C, VAL/12B/15/24D (Valuation annual revision list.); VAL/2B/2/34C (Griffith valuation list.).