Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On a prominence in hazel wood with land sloping steeply into ravines to the E and W, and sloping moderately at N into a valley. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map, and labelled ‘Caherclarig’ on the latter map. Labelled ‘Cathair an Chláraigh’ on Robinson’s map (1977). This subrectangular cashel (est. c. 34m N-S; 30m E-W) was visited several times by Westropp who noted an unusual feature in the lower courses of its masonry, where the bottom course was constructed of ‘rectangular crag blocks’ upon which rested ‘a course of thinner (header) slabs set on end like the books on a shelf’ (1913, 256). During a subsequent visit, Westropp (1915, 269) further noted that this atypical course was found in the outer wall-face at N. The cashel was constructed of a double-faced wall that was ‘4 to 5 feet [1.2-1.5m] high in parts, but much gapped’ and was ‘only 6 feet [1.8m] thick’. There was a lintelled gateway at E and a ‘hut enclosure’ (CL009-109001-) in the interior at S (ibid.). On inspection in September 1997, the cashel was impenetrable due to the dense growth of the hazel wood. However, the wall was intact (Wth at NE 1.6m; H 1.4m) and inner wall-facing was visible. At NE two upright posts were noted in the wall, 1.5m apart, and two small enclosures (c. 2.5m by 1.5m) were noted against the inner wall-face. The latter appear to be late features.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 13 June 2022

References

Westropp, T.J. 1913 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) in the Corofin district, Co. Clare (no. 11). Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries 43, 232-60.

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.

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.