Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Enclosure
Gorteen (dangan Ed), County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Gorteen (dangan Ed)
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Coordinates
- 52.83612, -8.78093
- SMR number
- CL035-118003-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
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, 66-7) as the southernmost of two enclosures which he labelled ‘I’ on his map ‘Gorteen Group of Forts’ and described as ‘a levelled ring’. Westropp (ibid.) continues: ‘About the middle of the southern fosse [of enclosure CL035-018001-] was a stone causeway leading to a ring-wall [CL035-018003-], now greatly levelled. The cathair is 98 feet across the garth. The wall is perfect round the craggy platform to the north-east. It is of rather poor coursed dry-stone masonry, and 4 feet to 5 feet high…..it seems from 6 feet to 10 feet thick. There were late cabins in the garth…..they are now nearly effaced’. This monument is depicted on the 25-inch OS map as a sub-circular area (c. 30m E-W; c. 29m N-S) located immediately S of enclosure (CL035-118001-). The enclosing elements (where seen), were defined by a collapsed drystone wall (int. H 0.4m; ext. H 1.1m; Wth at top 1m; overall Wth 5.9m) which was visible only SE-S and NNW-NNE due to dense, impenetrable overgrowth. A fosse (Wth c. 3-5m; D c. 1.2m) is located to N, between this and enclosure (CL035-118001-). The interior appears generally level but is mostly obscured by vegetation. The 100 foot contour skirts around the monument N-E-S, being located on higher ground overlooking the stream to E. A limekiln which is depicted on the 25-inch OS map at SSE-S was noted as a depression.
The following images have been uploaded:
CL035-118003-_01.jpg From S. Oblique cross-sectional view of bank at S.
CL035-118003-_02.jpg From ENE. View across interior, covered in dense vegetation.
CL035-118003-_03.jpg From W. General view overlooking meandering stream to E with white farm house and farm buildings in distance.
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.
Nearby in the register
- House - indeterminate dateunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Hut siteunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.