Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On the E-facing slopes of a high crag with views of the Aran Islands and a part of Galway Bay but with otherwise limited views and with a possible megalithic structure (CL004-056002-) located SW of centre. Hachured on the 1915 OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). Described by Westropp (1905, 346-7) as ‘a little shallow amphitheatre of crag’ ‘called “Tuam an Gaskaigh”; the edge of the depression is fenced at the top by an old wall, 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet thick, of large, regularly-laid slabs. A slighter wall, nearly levelled, runs straight across the little depression from one end of the crescent wall to the other, forming a D-shaped enclosure, with the curve to the south. In the bottom of the hollow is the "giant's grave." ‘.

A subcircular cashel (est. dims. 36m N-S; 30m E-W) defined by a low wall (H 0.5-1.1m; T 0.8-1.1m). The interior of the cashel is lower especially from E to NW and is rocky, especially in the S. On field inspection in 1998 possible huts were visible against the perimeter of the cashel wall at ENE and W and a third potential structure was visible against the perimeter of the cashel wall at NW. Boulders which were visible in the S, aligned NE-SW were potentially the megalithic structure (CL004-056002-) described by Westropp (1905, 347) but were considered of dubious antiquity. Stone walls abut the external perimeter at ESE, SSE, NW and with a lower wall to the N. An enclosure (CL004-055003-) is located c. 85m to the SSE.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 28 September 2022