Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In a mature section of evergreen forest at the NE end of Incha Wood. This monument was initially inspected in November 2014 when it came to light during tree-felling operations. It consists of a subcircular cashel (30m N-S; 27m E-W) that is defined by a much-collapsed stone and rubble wall that is heavily overgrown with moss, ivy, and trees. Intermittent inner and outer wall-facing is evident and the wall (Wth 1m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 0.8m) is best preserved at S. A gap (Wth 1.3m) at SE is partially filled with tumbled rubble and it may be a later feature. The interior is very rough and uneven and planted with trees but traces of buildings are evident in the SE quadrant. There is a possible internal division in the SW quadrant and a possible well or robbed-out souterrain in the NE quadrant.
In the SE quadrant a building (GA122-144002-) and a possible associated outhouse and haggard wall abut the cashel wall. The building (4m N-S; 3.8m E-W) is constructed of double-walling and its S wall (Wth 0.85m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.5m) is the best preserved wall. A gap (Wth 0.6m) in the N wall leads to the outbuilding (2.8m N-S). The N wall of this building appears to extend to the W of the main building but is in a much-collapsed state. A possible haggard constructed of a single line of boulders (Wth 0.35m; H 0.6m) extends off the SW corner of the main building and curves towards the SE to the cashel wall.
A possible internal dividing wall is evident in the SW quadrant. It is defined by a curving section (L 3m) of double-walling which then straightens out (L 5.4m). It is best preserved at its N end (Wth 1m; H 0.5-0.6m).
A hollow (D 1m) in the NE quadrant may mark the site of a well – or possibly the site of a robbed-out souterrain. Two lines of walling (L 8.8m; T 0.45m), 3.8m apart, delimit it on the E and W sides.
Following the completion of the tree-felling operations the cashel was re-inspected in April 2015 to see if any further features were revealed. Traces of field walls, possibly a field system (see GA122-144003-), were noted to the S and W of it. Due to the collapsed nature of the walls it was unclear whether they were associated with the cashel or were later in date.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Updated by: Olive Alcock

Date of revised upload: 9 April 2015

The following images have been uploaded:
GA122-144001-_01 Looking across interior from W.jpg
GA122-144001-_04 View from W with cashel wall in foreground.jpg
GA122-144001-_06 External wall-face of cashel from E.jpg