Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on ENE-facing slope. Roughly oval enclosure (max. L c. 240m NE-SW) cut by Finnow Stream from S to NW and by crossroad with roads exiting enclosure to E, S, W and NW. Interior defined by earthen bank (int. H 0.8m; ext. H 1.4m) S->SW with external fosse (max. D 1m), by stone wall of graveyard respecting line of enclosure SW->W, by low rise (int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.5m) W->NW with shallow external fosse (D 0.5m), by shallow depression NW->N, by earthen bank (int. H 1.6m; ext. H 1.5m) with external fosse (D 1m) N->ENE. No visible surface trace of enclosing element ENE->S. Graveyard (14116) at W side of enclosure, to S of W road. Small roughly square field to E of graveyard; three low upright uninscribed stones (H 0.27m) at E end of field may be gravemarkers. Within enclosure and to S of graveyard are concrete foundations for new house. Maybe the 'rath' referred to by Grove White (1905-25, vol. 1, 128) as in Kilgobban and used as burial ground for children. According to Pipe Roll of Cloyne, 'in the middle of the estate of Gortonocros, [are] three acres of land which were once a cemetery' (MacCotter and Nicholls 1996, 28-29); latter located by Power (1932, 117) as near Ath na Ceall (Ford of the Churches) which is mentioned in Crichad an Chaoilli.

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