Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough but flat pastureland, some 310m to the SSE of a tower house (GA095-028----). This ecclesiastical enclosure (diam. c 110m) is defined by an earthen bank, which on inspection August 1992 was almost totally obscured by thorn and briar growth at NE and NW. Field-clearance rubble had been piled up against it at NW. From ENE to ESE it was defined by a low grassed-over bank and it was badly denuded at SE where a scarp defined it. It was best preserved at SW (Wth 2.5m; int. H 1.1m; ext. H 0.6m). A good deal of stone protruded from the bank in this sector and several inner and outer facing stones appear to have revetted the base of the bank. Apart from the relatively clear SW sector, the interior was densely overgrown. A modern NE-SW running field wall cut across it at NE and WSW and another roughly NW-SE running wall cut across it at NW and S. Centrally located was a church (GA095-029002-) with a graveyard (GA095-029003-) immediately to its S. Traces of a possible radial double-faced drystone wall, overlain by a modern field wall, ran NE from the church. There were other traces of old field walls immediately outside the enclosure to the N and E which may be an associated field system (GA095-029004-). On re-inspection in February 2005, following a report of ground works in the area, it was discovered that a section of the bank of the ecclesiastical enclosure had been removed from SSE to S. Soil had been dumped along the bank at NE and it has been stripped of its sod cover at ENE. Current OSi aerial imagey (OSi Digitalglobe 2011-1013) indicates that enclosure to the W of the roughly NW-SE running wall is now clear of overgrowth and the outline of the bank is clearly visible in this sector. A bullaun stone (see GA095-029005-) lies c. 20m to the N and a house (GA095-031----) lies c. 135m to the SE.

Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG

Updated by: Olive Alcock

Date of revised upload: 14 July 2023

References

Westropp, T.J. 1919a Notes on several forts in Dunkellin and other parts of southern Co. Galway. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 49, 167-86.