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.

(6) This sub-circular hut lies directly N of the main entrance to the cashel, but the only access is by means of an entrance passage opening off clochaun (4). It is 3.3m in diameter and the drystone-built wall stands to a maximum height of 1.75m. The paved entrance is .92m long x .43m wide and is provided at its inner end with a low sill stone. The cupboard recess noted by Macalister (1899, 254) 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