Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Near the S shore of Lickeen Lough, on a densely overgrown hillock where surrounding fields had been cleared and drained. The area has since been planted with extensive forestry plantations. Hachured and named ‘Caherballagh’ on the 1840 and 1916 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as cashel in the RMP (1996). This enclosure is named after the townland according to Westropp (1900, 430) and is included in his list of cahers (ibid., 1905, 361). He described it as a ‘featureless ring planted with hawthorns near Lough Ballagh’ (ibid., 1913, 260). On inspection in May 1999, the hillock (base diam. c. 60m) was so densely overgrown with scrub and gorse that it was difficult to traverse. Only a few earthen bumps were noted.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 6 May 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.

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.

Westropp, T.J. 1900-02 The cahers of county Clare: their names, features, and bibliography. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Series 3, vol. 6, 415-49.