Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On high (between 700’ and 800’ contours) rough, grazing on the NE slopes of Knockaunsmountain (OD 983’), with a steep gorge to the E, and within a large field system (CL004-098----). Indicated on both the first (1842) and Cassini (1915) editions of the OS 6-inch map. Referred to by Westropp (1901, 11; 1915, 57) as one site in a group which are ‘late folds’ and as one site in a ‘curious group of ring walls’.

A D-shaped area (int. dims. 16.2m NE-SW; 14.3m NW-SE) is defined by a stone wall which is best preserved internally between ENE and SE (int. H 0.6-1.4m; ext. H 0.9-1.1m; T 1-1.8m) and externally between NE and S, and may be of later construction elsewhere. The interior slopes to the E and SE.
An associated, but possibly later, D-shaped field (diam. c. 33m E-W) with a straight E-side (L c. 30m N-S) abuts the enclosure at SE. At is E-end, the field contains a small rectangular drystone stone enclosure (L 6m N-S; Wth 2m E-W) enclosed by a low, wide wall (Wth 0.8m) with two upright stones on its N-side forming an entrance – probably a livestock pen. An enclosure (CL004-037001-) is located c. 30m to the SSW.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 28 October 2022

References

Westropp, T.J. 1915 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) in Burren and its south western border, Co. Clare. Part 12: North Western Part. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 5, 45-62, 249-74.

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