The Irish Ringfort

Matthew Stout

"The Irish Ringfort draws together and assesses the results of some difficult[1]to-access local surveys. This book is thought-provoking and ought to be read by everyone with an interest in ringforts and rural settlement", Chris Lynn, Archaeology Ireland

"Matthew Stout has tackled many of the key issues in understanding how early Irish society functioned and he has outlined the research agenda for his colleagues in other disciplines … an important contribution to early Irish studies", Michael Ryan, History Ireland


"Matthew Stout’s study is a timely contribution to our understanding of early  medieval Irish settlement … As well as providing a thorough review of the  evidence, much of it otherwise unpublished, he has put forward several new  hypotheses, some more acceptable than others, which nevertheless provide  interesting food for thought and will, it is hoped, spur specific research  programmes in the future", Peritia.

"It is a testament to the originality and value of Matthew Stout's book that it has been reprinted over twenty years since it first appeared. This publication succeeds in bringing to life a picture of the everyday lives of men and women in and around ringforts." Archaeology Ireland, Summer 2023.