Clochan

The National Monuments Service's description

Caher Murphy/Cathair Mhurfaí: This oval cashel (National Monument no. 156/1-5) is situated on the S slopes of Mount Eagle overlooking Dingle Bay. Much of its interior is occupied by a group of 5 roughly circular, conjoined clochauns, and a 6th irregularly-shaped structure. A souterrain passage extends from one of these huts to a chamber beneath the cashel wall. The site has been considerably restored by the OPW, and, during restoration work in the 19th century, an elaborate cross-slab was discovered; this is now housed in the NMI. A fragment of the upper stone of a rotary quern was also found lying loose within the cashel.

(2) This sub-circular clochaun is entered from the NNW side of clochaun (1). It measures 4.2m x 3.6m internally and the slightly corbelled, drystone-built wall stands to a maximum height of 1.6m. The paved entrance passage is 1.45m long and .9m wide. A low sill stone spans its inner end. A low, lintelled opening extends through the base of the wall at SW. It is .16m high, .23m wide and 1.35m long. Two projecting stones on the outer face of the wall may have acted as 'scaffolding' during the construction of the hut, or may have been used to tie down the roof material, if other than stone.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 568. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013