Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

At a high point on a rock outcrop, with cliffs immediately to S and W, overlooking a valley to the S. Hachured and named ‘Caherlissananima’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Labelled ‘Cathair Lios an Anama’ on Robinson’s (1977) map. This poorly preserved subcircular cashel (21.5m N–S; 20.5m E–W) is defined by a stone wall (H 0.5–1m; Wth not discernible). The massive stones (max. L 1.5m; H 0.5m; T 0.9m) of the outer face survive. The entrance (Wth 1.2m) is at the SE. A lintel (L 1.25m; H 0.48m; T 0.35m) lies on the ground nearby, outside the cashel. This was in position when Westropp (1899, 371) visited. Outside the entrance (max. 2.2m to the S) there is a curved wall (L 4m; H 0.7m) which may have had a defensive function.

This cashel interior is very uneven, sloping c. 2m from SW to NE, and with several large grykes. One of these, at the N, may have been used as a source of stone. It is a large subrectangular cut area (c. 4.6m N–S; c. 4m E–W; D c. 0.7m) with a channel/fissure (Wth 2m; D on W 1.5m) extending S. To the W of this the ground level rises and there is a bedrock shelf (H 0.6m). Another N–S gryke (visible L 4m; max. Wth 2m; D c. 0.5m) extends N from the cashel’s E interior, running under the wall. This is too shallow to be a souterrain. It may have functioned as a drain or have been quarried. There are house foundations (CL009-049002-) in the S interior.

Outside the cashel there is a berm (Wth 5m at W; 8m at S) extending to the cliffs. At the SW, where these cliffs are highest and closest to the cashel there is a N–S-oriented wall (L 9m; Wth 1.4m; H 0.4–0.8m), situated 1.5–3m from the cashel wall. This wall may also have had a defensive function. At the centre of the wall there is a fairly level depression (Wth at E 1.2m; Wth at W 0.6m), which may be the lower part of an embrasure angled to face NNW. At the N end the wall, where it is closest to the cashel wall, the gap between is closed by a narrow E–W wall (Wth 0.4m; H 0.6m) with a gap (Wth 0.4m) broken in it. This appears to be a secondary/later feature.

A steep path is cut (Wth 2.6m at top; D 0.6m) into the rocky slope to the S of the cashel, leading to the valley below. A cashel (CL009-045----) lies c. 216m to the WSW.

The following images have been uploaded:
CL009-049----_01.jpg Aerial view from SW (in 2007).
CL009-049----_02.jpg Drawing of entrance with lintel in place (Westropp 1899, 371)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 25 January 2022

References

Robinson, T. 1977 (reprint 1999) The Burren: a two-inch map of the uplands of North-West Clare. Map Scale 1:31680. Roundstone: Folding Landscapes.

Westropp, T.J. 1899 Prehistoric remains in the Burren, County Clare. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 29, 367-84.