Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On a rise in undulating pasture, within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-059001-), with wide views from S to N and higher ground to the E. Hachured and labelled ‘Site of Kilcameen Church’ (CL009-059007-) on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. On the 1920 ed., the church is indicated by the symbol ‘Site of’ and is shown within a roughly rectangular ‘Grave Yard’ (see CL009-059008-). Labelled ‘Cill Chaimín’ on Robinson’s map (1977).
This poorly preserved cashel (ext. dims. 30.95m E–W; 29.75m N–S) is defined by the remains of a double-faced wall (Wth 1.75m; ext. H 0.4–0.8m). The outer wall-face is traceable all around, while inner wall-face (L 8m) is only visible at S; elsewhere this face is flush with the interior. There is a small spread of stone (Wth 0.55–0.75m; H c. 0.4m) outside the wall from N through E to S. The interior slopes gently to the SW. Within it there is a cist (CL009-059009-) in the SE sector and a children’s burial ground (CL009-059008-) at SW. A cairn of loose stone (5.2m NE-SW; H 0.3-1.1m) overlies the wall at S. An upright stone (H 1.25m; Wth 0.3m; T 0.25m), inclined to the E, protrudes from it, c. 1.4m from its NE edge. Lying at its S edge is a large loose stone (L 1.3m; Wth 0.23m; T 0.22m), which is slightly narrower and curved at one end. This stone may have originally stood upright. Post-dating the cashel, this cairn may be contemporary with the children’s burial ground (CL009-059008-). A holy well (CL009-059010-) lies c. 34m to the S. An enclosure (CL009-059005-) lies c. 110m to S and the well-known cashel 'Caherballykinvarga' (CL009-059012-) lies c. 220m to the E.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 9 March 2022

References

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.