Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On a short flat stretch near the NW base of a steep ridge with good commanding view NW–NNE. Hachured on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and indicated with two solid lines on the 1915 ed. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996). A poorly preserved subrectangular cashel (int. dims. 23m N–S; 21.5m E–W) defined by a broad externally faced bank of stone (H 0.5–1m; av. Wth 4m; H 0.5–1m). There is no trace of an original entrance and the interior is generally level and featureless. Later walls are built on parts and the perimeter is overgrown with brambles. There is an unusual density of ringforts in this part of the Burren. Borlase (1897, 65) counted 20 between Derreen West and East and 33 on the slope on which they occur (including the NW-facing slope of Knockauns Mountain). Westropp (1901, 10–11) reported several of these to be largely levelled and rebuilt as sheepfolds but still believed them to be of ancient origin.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin

Date of upload: 16 December 2020

References

Borlase, W.C. 1897 The Dolmens of Ireland, 3 vols. London. Chapman and Hall.

Westropp, T.J 1901 Prehistoric remains in north-western Clare, part I. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 31, 1-17.