House - indeterminate date

The National Monuments Service's description

In deciduous woodland, on a generally level, elevated area overlooking the creek of a meandering stream to E. Recorded by Westropp (1914-16, 66-67) as being a rectangular structure named ‘Earl’s House’ and located within a rectangular enclosure (CL035-118001-), which adjoined a second enclosure (CL035-118003-) to S. The complex is labelled 'I’ on Westropp’s map named ‘Gorteen Group of Forts’ (ibid.). He describes it as, ‘a house, 60 feet east and west by 30 feet, the wall only a couple of feet high’ which was located upon ‘an oblong, flat-topped platform’ within enclosure (CL035-018001-) (ibid.). It is depicted and named as ‘Earl’s House (in ruins)’ on OS historic mapping. It is depicted on the 25-inch OS map as a rectangular area (c. 16m E-W; c. 6.7m N-S) located off-centre to SW, within the interior of an enclosure (CL035-118001-). The 100 foot contour appears to skirt around the monument N-E-SW, where the house would have been located on higher ground. According to Westropp (1914-16, 66), the precise origins of the name ‘Earl’s House’ are unknown, however he suggests it may be associated with an Earl of Thomond or a Red Earl such as De Burgo. This monument was not seen due to its low profile and the dense overgrowth of vegetation and trees across this ungrazed and largely inaccessible area.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 30 January 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.