Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In a level area on the NW slope of a narrow ridge in rough pasture. Indicated on the OS 25-inch plan (1897) and on the Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Rectangular enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). This subrectangular cashel (int. dims. 29m NE-SW; 27m NW-SE) is defined by a stone wall (Wth 1-1.5m; ext. H 0.85-1.2m) and associated collapse (combined Wth 1.2-3.3m). The outer wall-face is visible intermittently all around except on the NE side. At the SE the well-built outer wall-face (max. H 1.2m) is made of roughly coursed, large and quite regular blocks. At the SW and NW this wall-face is made of thin flagstones laid flat. The entrance (Wth 1m) is near the centre of the SE side, and is best preserved on its SW side (H 0.85m). At the SE the wall was rebuilt with uncoursed stones. A narrow modern wall is built over the cashel perimeter on the NE and part of the NW sides. There is a hut site (CL010-091002-) in the E part of the cashel’s uneven, NW-sloping interior. Partly overlying the SW edge of this hut site is a subcircular feature (int. diam. 2.5-3.5m) defined by an earth and stone bank (max. Wth 2m; H 0.6m). Westropp (1905, 216) observed a ‘side enclosure’ to the NE of this cashel. This feature not recorded on the OS mapping but a subrectangular enclosure (est. dims. L c. 35m NE-SW; Wth c. 28m NW-SE) is visible on Digital Globe aerial imagery abutting the cashel at NE and appears to be defined by a poorly preserved, gapped, single stone wall.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 15 May 2023

References

Westropp, T. J. 1905 Prehistoric remains (Forts and Dolmens) along the borders of Burren, in the county of Clare. Part 1 – The Eastern Border. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 35, 205-29.