Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In the NNE sector of the outer enclosure of the large bivallate cashel, ‘Cahermore’ (CL005-094002-). Indicated on the first edition (1842) of the OS 6-inch map as a circular enclosure (est. max diam. c. 23m).
In 1898, Westropp (1901, 284) visited twice during the partial levelling of this monument in the course of road-making and recorded: ‘A small ring wall, 70 feet from the last [‘Cahermore’, CL005-094002-] and to the east, occupies a slightly higher knoll. It had a wall built in two independent sections from the crag upward, as I had two opportunities of observing while it was in course of demolition in 1898. The wall was only 4 feet 6 inches high [c. 1.37m], and the sections were (the outer) 4 feet 3 inches thick [c. 1.3m], (the inner) 4 feet 1 inch [c. 1.24m: total wall T c. 2.54m]. The foundations of the southern section still remain as the road contractors left it. A third foundation of an oval caher [CL005-094005] lies in a grassy field east of Cahermore.'
He concluded, despairingly; 'It is a shameful fact that, in a country incumbered with stones, ancient buildings should be so wantonly swept away for the sordid gain of private persons; but educated public interest in and respect for ancient Irish remains are almost non-existent in the country.’
A remnant of cashel wall (L c. 9m; H 0.25m) still survives upon which a more modern wall is built, and subsurface archaeological deposits may also survive, even under the road.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Ros Ó Maoldúin

Date of upload: 19 January 2023

References

Westropp, T.J 1901 Prehistoric remains in north-western Clare part II. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 31, 273-91.