Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

Just W of centre in a cashel (CL004-027003-). Described by Westropp (1905, 351) as, ‘… a souterrain, 27 feet [c. 8.23m] from the western terrace, measuring 18 feet 8 inches [c. 5.69m], north-east and south-west. And 5 feet wide [c. 1.52m], lined with walls of small masonry, and roofed with great slabs, large and thin; one measures 7 and a half feet [c. 2.3m] by 5 feet 4 inches [c. 1.63m], by 10 inches to 12 inches [c. 0.25-0.3m]. Near the southern end, to the east, is a small side apartment, only 4 feet [c. 1.22m] by 3 feet [c. 0.91m] wide.’ The monument was later described by Cunningham (1980, 20) as ‘collapsed’.
The souterrain survives today as a partially unroofed passage (L 4.8m SSW-NNE; Wth 1.2-1.3m; H 0.7-0.8m) with a collapsed lintel at the SSW end, to the E of which is a narrow alcove (Wth 0.95m at front; Wth 0.55m at back; D 1.1-1.2m ENW-WSW). The passage is roofed by three lintels at the SSW end (L 0.95m; Wth 0.9m; H 0.7m), where the side walls meet to form a V-shape, which contains a small, square alcove and there is a second, smaller alcove (H 0.2m; Wth 0.2m; D 0.6m) at the S-end of the chamber.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 17 October 2022

References

Cunningham, G. 1980 Burren journey West. Shannonside Mid-Western Regional Tourism Organisation.

Westropp, T. J. 1905 Prehistoric remains (Forts and Dolmens) along the borders of Burren, in the county of Clare. Part 1 – The Eastern Border. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 35, 205-29.

Westropp, T.J. 1905-08 Ancient remains near Lisdoonvarna. Journal of the Limerick Field Club 3, 39-53, 143-59.