Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

On rock outcrop close to the SE shore of Inishshark. This oval enclosure (17.8m by 13.5m) is reputedly associated with St Leo (O'Flanagan 1927b, Vol. 1, 238). When visited in 1984 it was defined by a drystone wall (Wth 3m) faced on both sides. There was a narrow entrance (Wth 1.2m) at NNE. A roofless subrectangular clochan (GA009D005001-) was visible in the W half of the interior, with possible traces of a possible second one (GA009D005002-), almost gone, in the E half. The enclosure has subsequently been planned and surveyed in detail (see Kuijt et al. 2010, 56-9). It has been suggested that a line of five in situ head or footstones noted during this work, to the N of the possible clochan (GA009D005002-), may be coeval with the enclosure but they may also suggest a secondary use of the enclosure as a burial ground, possibly for children. (Kinahan 1869b)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

The following image has been uploaded: GA009D005----_01.jpg Entrance to enclosure at NNE with clochan (GA009D005001-) in background.

Revised by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 14 July 2016

References

Kuijt I., Lash R., Gibbons M., Higgins J., Goodale N. and O'Neill, J. 2010 Reconsidering early medieval seascapes: new insights from Inis Airc, Co. Galway,Ireland. Journal of Irish Archaeology XIX, 51-70.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1927 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Galway collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Typescript in 3 vols. Bray.