Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

At the edge of a ravine, which lies immediately to the E, in an area densely overgrown with blackthorn bushes. Hachured on the 1840 and 1916 eds. of the OS 6-inch maps. Listed as ‘enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). Described by Westropp (1905, 211) as a caher constructed of ‘beautiful polygonal masonry’ with ‘smooth white blocks very closely fitted together’. The wall had a batter and there was a hut site (CL016-096001-) in the NW sector of the interior.
An oval cashel (ext. dims. 43.1m NNW-SSE; 38.2m ENE-WSW) defined by a stone spread (Wth 5-6m; int. H 0.3-1m). The outer wall-face is visible (H 1.6m) all around the perimeter. The N half of the spread (Wth 5-6m) is more substantial than the S half (Wth 3m). From W to NW it has been cleared away from the inner wall-face and a width of the wall (Wth 3.2) is discernible here. The clearing away of the spread has created a pit (Wth 2m at N; D c. 2.2; L c. 8m) which narrows towards the S and is overgrown with briars. There is a breach in the wall at N. The interior slopes towards the N. A grass-covered field wall in the S half formed a paddock (int. dims. 21.5m NW-SE; max. 7m NE-SW) with a gap (2.5m) on the long side. Another ringfort (CL016-098----) is located c. 73m to the NNE.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 23 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.