Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On level ground in rough pasture and limestone pavement, within a local relict field system (CL009-004001-) and a larger multiperiod field system (CL008-109001-). Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as 'Enclosure' in the RMP (1996). This large subcircular cashel (int. dims. 51m NE-SW; 42m NW-SE) is defined by a double-faced drystone wall with a rubble core. It is best preserved at SW where both wall-faces (Wth 1.75m; int. H 0.55m; ext. H 1.3m) survive. Two further step/terrace-like revetments (inner step Wth 0.5m; outer step Wth 1.85m) built against the outer wall-face of this section of the wall may have been added to provide additional support for the wall where the natural slope of the land is steeper. From SW-N a later field wall overlies the outer face of the wall (Wth 2.5-3.2m; int. H 0.15m; ext. H 0.35m), while from N-NE a later, now collapsed, wall overlies it and a small area outside it. From NE-S the outer wall-face (max. ext. H 1m) is visible intermittently; inside it only wall collapse (Wth 3-4m) can be seen. At WSW there is a large upright slab within the wall core, aligned E-W, while at ESE another large upright stone (H 0.9m) is also set within the wall. The interior is partly overgrown and slopes gently to the SW. An enclosure (10.9m NE-SW; 8.2m NW-SE), which is outlined and labelled ‘Sheepfold’ on the 1897 OS 25-inch plan, is built against the inner wall-face at NW. It is defined by a curving grassed-over collapsed stone wall (Wth 1m; H 0.3m) with intermittent wall-facing and an entrance gap (Wth 1.1m) at SE. An area of loose stone rubble and some limestone slabs is visible in the E sector. (Westropp 1905, 357)

The following images have been uploaded:
CL008-006----_01 View from S
CL008-006----_02 Aerial view from WNW

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 18 August 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.

Record of Monuments and Places as established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, County Clare. Issued by National Monuments and Historic Properties Service 1996. Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.