Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On an undulating upland karst plateau in rough pasture, with views of Slieve Elva to the NNW and an ENE–WSW ridge c. 300m to the S, and within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-001001-). Hachured on the 1897 ed. OS 25-inch map, the 1920 ed. OS 6-inch map and Robinson’s map (1977). Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). Westropp (1915, 54) described it as a little house ring, a possible ‘bawn for the protection against wolves’, with a wall about three feet high and ‘rarely over 6 feet thick, built of large blocks, with no filling.’
A poorly preserved subcircular cashel (c. 23m NE–SW; c. 21m NW–SE) defined by a low bank of grass-covered stones (Wth 5–7m; int. H 0.8m; ext. H 0.6–1m) with no visible facing. A gap (Wth 8m) in the bank on the NW side is probably a later alteration rather than an original entrance. A drystone wall (H 1.2–1.4m) runs over the top of the bank around its entire circuit, except in the N where it has collapsed. This wall also extends across the NW gap in the bank. Collapsed and partly grass-covered field walls abut the cashel on the NE and NW sides.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 12 October 2021

References

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.

Westropp, T.J. 1915 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) in Burren and its south western border, Co. Clare. Part 12: North Western Part. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 5, 45-62, 249-74.