Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On a slight rise on a S-facing slope, overlooking an E-W valley, in rough pasture and within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-059001-). Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Named ‘Cathair na mBithiúnach’ on Robinson’s map (1977). This subcircular cashel (ext. dims. 36.3m NE-SW; 34.4m NW-SE) is defined by a much-collapsed double-faced stone wall (Wth c. 2.2-2.6m; int. H 0.6-0.9m; ext. H c. 1.5-2.2m). The inner wall-face and the lower part of the outer wall-face are obscured by collapsed rubble (total Wth 7-10m). The outer wall-face is best preserved from SSW to NW and from NNE to SE, and is composed of large horizontally laid stones forming a flush facade. Two stone piers (W pier L 1.5m; Wth 0.8m; E pier L 2.4m; Wth 1.2m), 5m apart, have been built against the it at NE. These appear to be buttresses for supporting the wall and may post-date the occupation of the site. The interior slopes markedly from NW to SE. A wedge tomb (CL009-059077-) is located at the highest point of the NW quadrant. Another cashel (CL009-059079-) lies c. 76m to the NE and an enclosure (CL009-059078-) lies c. 116m to the NNE. (Westropp 1897, 119-120)

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 8 April 2022

References

Westropp, T.J. 1897 Prehistoric stone forts of northern Clare, part III. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries 27, 116-27.

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.