Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough pasture, on S-facing slope. Roughly circular area (88m N-S; 96.5m E-W) enclosed by dry stone wall (H 1.7m; Wth 2.1m) with rubble core E->W; stone field fence W->E. Entrance to SSW (Wth 5m), blocked by rough stone wall; break in wall to NW. Interior divided in half by stone wall running N-S. Stone cross (CO102-02403-) and burial ground (CO102-02404-) in E half of interior.
Interior features:
(1). Rectangular house site (12-4m N-S; 7.1m E-W) (CO102-026----) incorporated into N bank of burial ground; defined by grass covered wall (H 1m; Wth 1.2m).
(2). Remains of second rectangular house site (12.2m NW-SE; 7.4m NE-SW) (CO102-025----) in NW quadrant; defined by grass-covered wall (H 1m; Wth 1.1m); break in E (Wth 1.6m) and W (Wth 2m) walls. Shallow fosse-like feature outside N and E walls (D 0.5m).
(3). Arc (diam. 14m) formed by earth and stone bank (H 0.5m) E->W, adjoins inner face of enclosure wall to W.
(4). Just S of (3) are foundations of four circular hut sites (diam. c. 3.3m) (CO102-028----). Heavily overgrown.
(5). Adjoining inner face of enclosure wall to SSW is roughly circular area (8m N-S) defined by earth and stone bank (H 0.5m). Heavily overgrown.
(6). Ruined rectangular animal shelter (1.6m x 2.5m) in interior, lies just W of blocked entrance. Adjoining W end of shelter and SSW wall of enclosure is rectangular foundations of hut site (6m x 7m; H 0.4m). Listed as early ecclesiastical enclosure by Hurley (1980, 55-56), who noted site sometimes called 'Kilmacowen', the name of adjoining townland. (O'Shea and Crowley 1972, 65). Rectangular stone (L c. 0.7m) with deep groove at one end noted in SE quadrant; similar stones noted at Kilnaruane early ecclesiastical enclosure (CO118-03101-).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009