Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

On a generally level area at the top of an E-facing slope in pasture with excellent views NE-E over the Owenogarney or Ratty River valley. Identified on aerial photography (Digital Globe 2015). A roughly oval area (19.5m NW-SE; 17.5m NE-SW) defined by a well-formed bank (int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.7m; Wth at top 1.25m; overall Wth 4.85m) SSW-E and by a low scarp (Wth 1.3m; H 0.65m) E-SE. The monument is open (Wth 12m) SE-SSW where the enclosing elements are levelled either side of where there may have been a causewayed entrance. There is a wide intervening, flat-bottomed fosse (Wth 5.25m; D 0.2-0.3m) which is traceable SSW-SE. The intermittent remains of an outer earthen bank (int. H 0.7m; ext. H 1m; Wth at top 2m; overall Wth 5.2m) are present WSW-SE. There are large gaps in this bank NW-N, E-ESE and SE-WSW and it is obscured by vegetation SW-NW. It has been pushed outwards at the WSW and SSE ends forming two modified areas of bank. The interior is generally level across the NW half and is raised (H 0.65m) above the base of the intervening fosse. There is a break of slope across the centre of the interior from where the SE half is disturbed, having a SSE-facing slope. This monument is conjoined to rectangular enclosure (CL051-199----) to N by a shared outer fosse. Although this area is named 'Battle of Bunratty 1310' on the OS 6-inch map these earthworks are not known to be associated. See CL061-018--- for the battlefield record.

The following images have been uploaded:
CL051-198----_01.jpg From NW. Cross-section view of bank and wide intervening fosse at NE.
CL051-198----_02.jpg From NW. Cross-section view of outer bank at NE.
CL051-198----_03.jpg From E. General view of monument.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 8 January 2019