Hillfort

The National Monuments Service's description

In commanding position enclosing hill, on top of which are second inner hilltop enclosure (CO019-09701-) and Caherdrinny Castle (CO019-09702-). Oval area (472m E-W; 350m N-S) enclosed by stone defences in various states of preservation. Rampart of dumped stone construction (int. H 0.3-0.5m; Wth c. 12m) survives SSW->WSW; built on natural scarp (max. H c. 14m) with an external step/terrace c. 0.75m-1m below top of bank; to SW possible ramped entrance (Wth c. 6m) cuts through rampart at angle. WSW->WNW rampart in poor state of preservation. Quarrying to WNW has destroyed rampart and portion of interior. WNW->NNW two banks with stepped profile survive (Inner bank; ext. H 1m, int. H 0.4m; Wth c. 3.6m: outer bank; ext. H 1.3m; int. H 0.4m; Wth c. 3m); banks partially cut into slope and externally faced with large stones. Causewayed entrance through banks (Wth 2m ) to N of quarry; flanked to either side by external fosse (D 0.5m; Wth c. 1.4m) with counterscarp bank. NNW->NNE single bank of dumped stone construction (int. H c. 0.3m; ext. H c. 4m; Wth c. 10m); stepped profile noticeable in places; possible entrance (Wth 1m) to N. Rampart in poor condition NNE->ENE (ext. H 0.8m; int. H 0.2m); modern field fence follows line of rampart in some places. To ENE some remains of double bank visible (inner bank: ext. H 0.5m; Wth 1.7m; outer bank: ext. H 1.5m; int. H 0.55m; Wth 4.5m). At E side rampart has been modified (possibly by occupiers of castle); now steep-sided and faced with stone; a radial field fence, running E from inner enclosure (CO019-09702-), turns S to join line of modified rampart. Rampart removed E->S; modern field fence follows approximate line of removed rampart. Scarp runs concentric to rampart, c. 27m to outside; topped by field fence NE->E and SE->NNE. Interior slopes up to castle and inner enclosure; overgrown with gorse and hawthorn on W side, fern and bracken on N, E and S sides clear. Curving bank of radial field system c. 15-30m outside inner enclosure is of similar construction to stepped rampart of outer enclosure and may be contemporary with it (pers. comm. B. Masterson). Windele (Grove-White 1905-25, vol. 3, 144) noted c. 1852 'a great stone wall...of considerable thickness' encircling the hill 'about 400 paces' lower than the inner defence (CO019-09701-).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009