Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

At the E edge of a broad hill summit in rough pasture and karst limestone, with wide views N-S, and within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-032001-). Indicated on the OS 25-inch plan (1897) and 1920 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. Westropp (1901, 286) noted the local name ‘Caherlochlannach’. This small subrectangular cashel (20.65m ENE-WSW; 18.1m NNW-SSE) is defined by a double-faced stone wall (int. H 0-0.6m; ext. H 0.8-1.4m; Wth 1.45-1.7m), the outer face of which is traceable all around except for a short section (L c. 5m) at SW. The outer wall-face is rebuilt (max. H 2) at NNW-E. The entrance (Wth 0.9m) is at SE. Against the inner wall-face there is stone spill (Wth 2m; H 0-0.3m) which is most substantial at N (Wth 3m; H 0.4-0.6m). There is no spill outside the cashel, except at SW. In the N centre there is a souterrain (CL009-066003-). In the perimeter at SE there is a small cavity (L 1.2m; Wth c. 0.5m; D c. 0.5m) which may be part of a stone-lined drain. Outside the wall at W there are several later features: two rectangular structures (each c. 7m NE-SW; c. 4m NW-SE) and a stone-built terrace (L c. 7.5m; max. Wth 1.45m; H 0.8m) which is oriented N-S and narrows as it proceeds N.

An enclosure (CL009-069002-) c. 38m to the SW and a cashel (CL009-064001-) c. 229m to the WSW. appear to be integrated with this cashel within a shared field system (Bowmer 2019, 73). A cairn (CL009-213001-) lies c. 93m to the W.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 6 April 2022

References

Bowmer, T. 2019 Rectilinear drystone cashel and enclosure settlements in the Burren, Co. Clare. The Journal of Irish Archaeology 28, 59–84.

Westropp, T.J 1901 Prehistoric remains in north-western Clare part II. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 31, 273-91.