Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On a slight rise in rough pasture, with wide views S-W-N but obscured by higher ground NE-E-S. Indicated on both the first (1842) and later, Cassini (1920) editions of the OS 6-inch map. Two, conjoined and opposing D-shaped cashels, orientated N-S, share a common wall and present an almost figure-of-eight shaped ground-plan.
The N cashel (diam. 33.5m N-S) with a straight S side (L c. 33m; and the N side of the S cashel) is defined by a double-faced stone wall (Wth c. 1.1m; max. int. H 0.8m; max. ext. H 0.65m) which is generally collapsed (overall Wth 2.3m at N) and which is overlain by a later wall at W. The entrance (Wth 1.7m) is at the N and is approached externally via a long, sunken way (L c. 30m N-S; Wth 3.35-6.1m; max. D 1.5m; Westropp 1905, 217 for ground plan).
There is a hut site (CL010-095003-) in the NW sector of the interior, abutting the inner face of the enclosing wall, and there is a second hut site (CL010-095004-) against the enclosing wall at SE. A triangular area (int. dims. 8m NW-SE; 7m E-W) abutting the SW corner is defined by a collapsed stone spread (Wth 2m; H 0.4m) and may be the remains of a third hutsite.
There is also a wedge tomb (CL010-095002-) in the NE sector of the interior. As discussed by Comber (2008, 106-8), this is one of several examples in the Burren of a cashel apparently deliberately enclosing, incorporating or being built adjacent to an Early Bronze Age ritual structure. Other examples include Caherconnell cashel (CL009-030011-; Hull and Comber 2008, 123-30), another cashel (CL009-059076-) in Ballyganner North, and two others (CL009-001026- and CL009-001013-) in Lissylisheen.
Conjoined at S is a similar-sized, D-shaped enclosure (diam. c. 28m N-S) with a straight N side (L c. 28m) which is shared by both enclosed areas. The enclosing wall (Wth 1m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 1.2m) has well-preserved outer facing SE-S along with a short section of surviving inner wall-face (H 0.35m) at S.
Grass-covered walls radiate from the conjoined monument’s perimeter at NE, SE, SSW and W. The remains of a possible concentric outer enclosing wall are visible in satellite imagery (Aerial Premium 2013-2018) from NE-E-SSW.

See attached image: CL010-095001-_01.JPG Snip of Westropp’s ground plan (1903). Note. North is to right.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 15 May 2023

References

Hull, G. and Comber, M. 2008 Caherconnell, Co. Clare, and cashel chronology. Archaeology Ireland 22, 30-33.

Comber, M. 2008 Ringforts and the settlement landscape of the Burren in the first millennium AD. In M. Comber and C. Jones (compilers), Burren landscape and settlement. An Irish National Strategic Archaeological Research (INSTAR) Programme, 89-109. The Heritage Council.

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.