Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On level ground in a rocky area of scrub with poor views. On the SW slopes of Knockaunsmountainand within an extensive field system (CL004-027001-). Indicated on the 1915 OS 6-inch map. Described by Westropp (1905, 348) as a ‘ring-wall’ (dims. 18.28m) with a ‘ruined cottage’ in the centre. A poorly preserved roughly oval cashel (23m E-W; 20m N-S) defined by a loose drystone wall and bank of dubious antiquity but with original outer wall-facing visible at N and NNE (H 0.45-0.47m; T 0.6m). At W, the wall may be original (ext. H 0.8m; T 1.5-2m) but is collapsed internally. At NNW and N the bank is low and this may indicate an entrance gap. The interior is uneven and overgrown with blackthorn and the remains of a house (int. dims. 6m WSW-ENE) are located against the bank at NW. The foundations of a mound wall abut the site at WSW and a later wall abuts the site at NE. Another cashel (CL004-068----) is located c. 100m to the NNE.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 30 November 2022

References

Westropp, T. J. 1905 Prehistoric remains (Forts and Dolmens) along the borders of Burren, in the county of Clare. Part 2 - west Corcomroe. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 35, 342-61.