Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

The northernmost of three enclosures (with CL004-025---- c. 170 m to SSW and CL004-024---- c. 300m to SSW) on a narrow, level, N-S exposed rock terrace on the W-face of a steep slope (on the 400 foot contour), overlooked by higher ground to E. Not recorded on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map but indicated on the later Cassini edition (1915). Listed as ‘enclosure’ in the RMP (1996).
Referred to by Westropp (1905, 352) as one of ‘three rude old enclosures of slab masonry, partly rebuilt, but embodying ancient work, though neither regular nor massive’ and which were ‘evidently cattle bauns’.
A subrectangular area (est. L c. 50m N-S; est. Wth c. 25m E-W) is defined by a drystone wall (T 0.7-1.2m) and encloses two, conjoined stone structures in the S sector. The W-structure (int. dims. 4m N-S; 2.8m E-W) is defined by a double-faced stone wall (T 1m at S) with most of the surviving stones being quite large (dims. H 1m; Wth 1.2m; T 0.35m) and earthfast. The interior is partially filled with stone, particularly in the S and W.
By comparison, the W structure is the better constructed of the two and may predate the structure which adjoins it at E. This comprises a larger area (int. dims. 10m N-S; 9m E-W) defined by thinner walls (int. H 0.8m; ext. H 0.6-0.8m; T 0.6m) and may have served as a livestock pen?

Reference
Westropp, T.J. 1905 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) along the borders of Burren, in the County of Clare (continued). Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 35, 342-61.
See attached CL004-026----_1: structures in enclosure from W.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 30 September 2022