Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

On a ridge of high ground in an E-W valley in reclaimed pastureland. Hachured on the 1840 and 1916 eds. of the OS 6-inch map and named ‘Cahermacon’ on the latter ed. Recorded by O’Donovan, in 1839, as a caher in the townland of ‘Cahermochunna’ ‘said to have been the residence of ‘O’Hehir’ (Comber 1997, 16). Listed as ‘Cahermachuna’ by Westropp (1900, 431) and described by him as ‘mere foundations’ and of ‘small dimensions’ (ibid., 1905, 211). Listed as Cashel in the RMP (1996).
A subrectangular rath (int. dims. 24.4m E-W, c. 18m N-S) defined by a slightly curving low flat-topped bank from SE to W to N. Spoil has been piled on top of the bank from SW to N. It is best preserved at S (Wth 6.5m, int. H. 0.3m, ext. H. 1.2m) where occasional facing-stones are visible. A double-faced drystone townland boundary wall overlies the enclosing element from N to SE. A number of clearance cairns are visible in the interior. There is a cashel (CL016-034----) c. 130m to the WNW.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 22 June 2022

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.

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.

Comber, M. (ed.) 1997 The antiquities of County Clare: John O’Donovan and Eugene Curry: Ordnance Survey Letters 1839. Clasp Press. Ennis.

Record of Monuments and Places as established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, County Clare. Issued by National Monuments and Historic Properties Service 1996. Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.