Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On the level, upper (between 700’ and 800’ contours) NE slope of Knockauns Mountain (OD 983’) with another cashel (CL004-040----) clearly visible c. 70m to the SW, and within a large field system (CL004-098----). Indicated on the first edition (1842) of the OS 6-inch map and hachured on the later Cassini edition (1915). Probably referred to by Westropp (1901, 11) as one of, ‘… four ring-walls [possibly along with CL004-039----, CL004-041---- and CL004-039042----], about 100 feet [c. 30m] in diameter … three … levelled; the fourth … nearly gone.’
A poorly preserved circular area (int. diam. 17.5m) is defined by a partially collapsed bank of stone and earth (Wth 1.6-6m; int. H 0.3-1m ext. H 0.7-0.85m) which is lower in the ENE (Wth 3m) where there may have been an entrance and highest in the W (H 0.4-1m). The outer wall facing is best preserved in the SE, SSW-WSW, W and NNW (H 0.5-0.8m). The interior is a slightly hollow area and is overgrown with wild flowers.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 7 November 2022

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.