Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

Crowning a high rocky outcrop (H 10m at N) beside a sharp bend in the road in an area of hazel scrub with commanding views from SW-NE. A well-built oval cashel (int. diam. 0.44m N-S; 25m E-W), named 'Cashlaungarr' on the 1916 OS 6-inch map, defined by a wall of fairly regular blocks (H 2.5m at E to 4m at NE; T 2.8m at NNE). Grass and moss covers much of the wall. The original outer wall face survives in many areas. The only surviving inner wall face is at N (H 0.3-1m). There is an entrance at ENE (Wth 2m) lined with walls (H 1.2m) exiting on to a precipitous slope. The interior is uneven and according to a plan by Westropp (1896, 153) it contained four house sites (CL010-057002, CL010-057003-, CL010-057004-, CL010-057005-), one in the centre and three in the N quadrant. These cannot be clearly seen on the ground. Also in 1896, Westropp noted irregularities in the wall at SE constructed to follow the irregular line of the outcrop. A wall close to the S side of the entrance (Wth 0.8m; ext. H 1m) probably formed part of an enclosed area extending out 18.5m N and E of the cashel indicated on a later Westropp plan (1915, 270). It is not known if this contemporary and it is not visible on any available aerial photography. Glencurran Cave (CL010-054----) is 96m to the W and Cahercommaun cashel (CL010-064003-) lies c. 550m to the E. Cashlaungarr is a national monument in State care, no. 270.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 27 May 2015

References

Westropp, T.J. 1896 Prehistoric stone forts of northern Clare, parts I & II. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries 26, 142-58, 362-9.

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.