Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

On a low knoll of improved pastureland. Formerly within a ringfort (CL006-040----) of which there is no visible trace at ground level. Indicated and named cave on the 1915 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. A three-chambered souterrain with drystone sidewalls and upper corbelled course supporting massive roof lintels. The souterrain is entered through its NE corner at the E end of chamber 1, through a narrow clay-filled opening under its roof lintel. The infilled clay obscures the original end of this chamber which was probably also the original entrance. Chamber 1 (L 7.6m; Wth 1.35m; H 1.9m) is orientated E–W. A long narrow creep (L 4.1m; Wth 0.78m; H 0.98m) leads S from W end of chamber 1 to chamber 2. At the S end of the creep jambstones narrow the ope to only 0.3m in width. Chamber 2 (L 9.4m; Wth 1.55m; H 1.8m) runs N–S, in line with the first creep, and at its S end a second creep (L 1.55m; Wth 0.75m; H 1.1m) leads E to the third and smallest chamber (L 4.65m; Wth 1.55m; H 1.85m). The second creep has a sillstone placed midway along its length. Most of the stone in the souterrain is limestone but the sill and two jambstones are conglomerates.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin

Date of upload: 27 July 2021