Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On a gentle rise in rough pasture surrounded by limestone outcrop, offering wide views across the surrounding extensive multiperiod field system (CL008-109001-). Hachured and named 'Caheradoon' on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map, and 'Cathair an Dúin' on Robinson's (1977) map. This subcircular cashel (est. c. 50m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW; or diam. c. 33m (Westropp 1905, 358)) is defined only by an intermittently visible low grass-covered rubble bank (Wth 2-3m; max. H 0.3m). There is grass-covered rubble throughout the interior. Westropp (ibid.) noted a local account that this cashel had been dismantled in the mid-19th century in order to provide stone for the construction of a nearby road. He proposed that given the commanding position of this cashel, it had probably been 'the chief fort of the place' (ibid.). There is a hut site (CL008A003008-) c. 77m to N, and an enclosure (CL008A003009-) c. 108m to WSW.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 26 April 2023

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.

Robinson, T. 1977 (revised 1999) The Burren: a two-inch map of the uplands of north-west Clare. Map scale 1:31680. Roundstone: Folding Landscapes.