Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In improved gently undulating pasture, on a S-facing slope. Depicted and named as ‘Carrowbaun’ on all OS historic mapping. Described by Westropp (1914, 67) as, ‘a strange-looking low oval earthwork…..set with hawthorns, and called Carrowbane (ceathramadh bán), ‘white quarter’. A circular area (38m N-S; 36m E-W) defined by a low earth and stone bank (int. H 0.7m; ext. H 0.55m; Wth at top 2m; overall Wth 9m) WSW-N-E and ESE-SSW. No obvious signs of a genuine entrance although there is a gap (Wth 6m) at E-ESE and an opposing gap (Wth 8m) at SW-WSW around which the ground is poached by cattle. A field boundary (long-axis ENE-WSW) truncates the monument across the SSE sector, to the immediate S of both gaps. The small portion of monument located in the adjacent field to SSE, is in woodland and well preserved in comparison to the main portion of the monument which is in improved pasture. Thorn trees and briars grow around the top of the bank in places, particularly the portion in the field to SSE. A number of large, rugged blocks of limestone are placed along the top of the bank and the perimeter of the interior NE-E. The interior has a gentle SSE-facing slope. A large concrete water trough is located in the ENE-sector and a second is located on the exterior at E. A round feeder and troughs are located within the interior also, where young livestock are currently being wintered.

The following images have been uploaded:

CL035-094----_01.jpg From NW. General view of monument.
CL035-094----_02.jpg From E. Oblique cross sectional view of bank at SE.
CL035-094----_03.jpg From E. Oblique cross sectional view of bank at NW.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 20 March 2018

References

Westropp, T.J. 1914-16 Types of ring-forts remaining in Eastern Co. Clare, part IV. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 32, 58-77.