Clochan

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 156. Caher Conor/Cathair na gConchúrach: A sub-oval cashel situated on the lower S slopes of Mount Eagle overlooking Dingle Bay. The interior is now occupied by 5 structures in varying states of preservation, but other structures were formerly visible, and both the enclosing wall and the interior appear to have undergone considerable change since the site was first recorded in the 19th century.

Rectangular foundation: Abutting the cashel wall at E is a rectangular foundation measuring 4.75m N-S x 3.85m E-W, with an entrance in the S wall. Its drystone-built walls are c. 0.5m high.
Clochauns: (1) The corbelled drystone hut in the NW part of the interior is pointed oval in plan, but it is possible that it was originally circular and that the present S wall is secondary. It measures 4.4 x 2.45m internally and the roof is closed by a few flags at a height of 2.85m above the floor. The lintelled doorway at SE is 1.01m long, 1.2m high and .73 to .8m wide.
(2) The large circular clochaun in the W sector measures 5.1m in diameter internally and the corbelled drystone wall stands to a maximum height of 2.85m. The entrance at E is 1.45m high, 1.6m long and .65m wide, and its inner end is flanked on either side by an orthostat c. 1m high. The souterrain opens into this hut at ground level a little S of the entrance.
(3) An almost complete drystone corbelled structure located directly SE of (2). It is sub-rectangular in plan internally, measuring 3.1m E-W x 2.55m N-S, and the walls stand to a maximum height of 3.05m. The lintelled entrance at NE is 1.33m high, .75m wide and .85m long. The function of the 2 low uprights in the interior is uncertain.
Rectangular Enclosure: Both huts (2) and (3) open into a generally rectangular enclosure, measuring 7.75m E-W x 6.1m N-S, with walls c. 1m high and an entrance in the E wall. Both Du Noyer and Macalister recorded 2 small chambers in the SE and NE corners of this, Du Noyer describing them as 'still perfect'; no trace now survives.
Possible huts: Du Noyer and Macalister noted the remains of other huts in the N and NE part of the interior, but only very vague traces of these are now visible. Macalister also noted a small rectangular foundation directly N of the entrance.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 571. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013