Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In elevated undulating pastureland with higher ground from SW to N. Indicated and named ‘Battle Field’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Named ‘earthworks’ on Robinson’s (1977) map. Westropp (1917, 72-3) could find no historical evidence underpinning this traditional name (see redundant record (CL010-126----)). This large, partially preserved ecclesiastical enclosure (est. diam. c. 130m) is defined from S to W by an almost straight linear bank (c. 104m NW-SE; av. Wth 4-8m; H .8-1.9m) of earth, gravel and stone, with a parallel, flat-based fosse (Wth 2-2.5m at base; ext. D 0.9-1.1m). The SE end of the bank was damaged by an ESB pole. Possible traces of the N perimeter were noted by Sheehan (1982, 35) and are visible in satellite imagery (OSi MapGenie 2013-2018) as a N-facing curvilinear scarp (L c. 120m) extending roughly from W to E, its W end c. 38m to the NNE of the straight bank. In the N centre of the ecclesiastical enclosure are the remains of Templepatrick church (CL010-108002-), as well as a graveyard (CL010-108003-), a holed stone (CL010-108005-) and (according to historic OS maps and other sources) the site of a possible leper hospital (CL010-108004-).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 27 June 2023

References

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. 1917 Prehistoric remains in North-Western and Central Co Clare: Part XV. Addenda. West Clare. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 47, 67-74.

Sheehan, J. 1982 The early historic church-sites of north Clare. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 11, 29-47.