Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough pastureland on the level floor of a valley, with views to E and W and ground rising to N and S. This rectangular bawn (117m N-S; 57m E-W) is defined at N and W by a band of higher ground (Wth 7.5m; H 2-4m) supported by vertical stone revetments which have collapsed in places. The E and S sides of the bawn are delimited by more common stone walls (Wth 0.5m; H 2-3m). There is a modern entrance at SE, but the original entrance may have been at NW. According to the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, just outside the NW corner of the bawn is the site of a medieval house (CL008-050002-), and just to the NW of this is the site of Lisdoonvarna castle (CL008-050001-). It has been suggested that this bawn functioned as a garden (Cunningham 1980, 49) or perhaps 'a market, fairground or sports arena' (Ua Cróinín and Breen 1997).

The following images have been uploaded:
CL008-050003-_01.jpg Aerial view from E (photo: Markus Casey)
CL008-050003-_02.jpg W wall from SE

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 20 December 2022

References

Ua Cróinín, R. and Breen, M. 1997 The castles and tower-houses of Co. Clare, 6 vols. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Cunningham, G. 1980 Burren journey West. Shannonside Mid-Western Regional Tourism Organisation.