Structure

The National Monuments Service's description

New site identified by John Cronin & Associates (JCA) under Licence No. 16E0127 prior to wind farm development in Barnastooka, Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry by ESB Wind Development Ltd. The remains of a rectangular dry-stone structure aligned NW-SE with northern side wall built up against an exposed rock face (which marks the north-eastern limit of NICH36 settlement enclosure) (ITM grid co-ord. 505670, 571420). The site is located at the northeast corner of NICH36 settlement enclosure and is only just visible from NICH37 hut site, but not from the western hut sites. The ground here is relatively dry and the interior of the structure is partly covered by rushes. Damper peaty soils are found just downslope to the south and east, where NICH36 can be traced down to NICH37.
NICH42 measures 6.5m in length and 4.7m in width externally, and 5.4m in length and 2.6m in width internally. Its walls are constructed of medium-sized slabs dislodged from the rock face immediately to the north. The walls are an average of 0.8m high and 0.6m wide. The structure may once have been roofed to form a cabin-like dwelling and indeed it has an entrance in the northwest corner, with an orthostat marking one side of it. The remains of a smaller ancillary pen or porch-like area are evident outside this entrance to the southwest.

See attached photograph courtesy John Cronin.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by John Cronin

Date of upload: 7 April 2022

References

Cronin, J. et. al. 2018 Grousemount Wind Farm, Kilgarvan, County Kerry Preliminary Final Archaeological Report. Excavation Licence: 16E0127. Prepared by: David Murphy and Dr. Eugene Costello, John Cronin & Associates On behalf of ESB Wind Development Ltd. Unpublished report.