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.

(5) A sub-circular, drystone-built clochaun measuring 4.5m x 3.55m internally. The wall stands to a maximum height of 2.1m and is slightly corbelled. The paved entrance passage faces SE and is 1.15m long x .61m wide. A lintelled recess at N measures .46m in height, .6m in width and .91m in depth. The 2nd recess noted by Macalister (1899, 255) is no longer evident.

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