Clochan

The National Monuments Service's description

Cathair na Máirtíneach: Roughly circular cashel KE052-249---- is located on the lower S slopes of Mount Eagle, overlooking Dingle Bay. Much of the interior is occupied by the remains of several structures which have undergone considerable change since their original construction.

Structure 6: Situated in the SE part of the cashel, this consists of the foundations of a circular drystone-built clochaun, the S wall of which has been rebuilt and incorporated into the irregularly-shaped drystone corbelled chamber which now occupies the S half of the clochaun interior. The original clochaun measures 4.6m in diameter internally, and its neatly-constructed corbelled wall is c. 0.65m high. The SE facing entrance has been adopted as the entrance to the later structure. The latter measures 2.65m x 1.7m internally and the corbelled roof is closed by slabs at a height of 2.75m above the floor. The lintelled entrance passage is 2.7m long and c. 0.85m wide. The innermost lintel is set 1.6m above the floor but the remainder of the passage is 2. 1m high. The upright jamb stones near the inner end of the passage are on line with the inner face of the earlier clochaun and probably mark the inner end of the original entrance. The N wall of the passage extends as far as, but is not bonded into the wall of structure 4.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 570. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013