Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On a flat rocky terrace with commanding views from NW–E and overlooked by higher ground to the S. Hachured on the 1842 and 1915 eds. of the OS 6-inch maps. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996). An oval cashel (25m N–S; 18.5m E–W) defined by a stone wall (orig. T 1.6m). The inner facing survives best in the N half (H 1.6m). The outer facing survives best to the W (H 0.5m). A cattle gap to the SE may also be the site of the original entrance. Other cashels lie c. 180m WSW (CL004-003----), c. 120m WNW (CL004-007----) and c. 130m SW (CL004-103---- and CL004-104----). The field walls running between these form part of a system (CL004-098---- ) likely contemporary and potentially partially predating these cashels.
There is an unusual density of ringforts in this part of the Burren. In 1897, Borlase (1897, 65) counted twenty between Derreen West and East and thirty-three 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 sheep folds but still believed them to be of ancient origin.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maolduin

Date of upload: 17 February 2021

References

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

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