Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

This souterrain was first opened around 1925-6 and although it was closed by the 1950s the location and a description from local people who had been in it was published by Etienne Rynne (1959, 1964). It was re-opened c. 1980 and a full record was made in 2017 using laser scanning technology (Campbell et al. 2018, 184-8). It consists of three passages but the original entrance at the SW end of passage 1 (visible L 6.8m NE-SW; max. Wth 1.3m at ground; Wth at top 0.85m; max. H 1.25m) is still closed. This passage narrows as it progresses NE (Wth at ground 1m; H 0.95m) and there is a small cupboard (Wth 0.35m; H 0.2m; D 0.85m) beneath the lintels c. 3m from the NE end of the SE wall, with a plough-marked stone in the same wall c. 1.5m NE of the cupboard. Passage 2 (L 2.8m) is signaled by a rise in floor level (0.3m) and of the roof (H 1.25m), and by a slight re-alignment to the N. A doorway (Wth 0.6m; H 1.02m; D 0.75m) with a single stone on the NW side allows access to passage 3 (L 17.8m NW-SE; Wth 1.4m; H 1.25m) which is undifferentiated but sloping down slightly and curving towards the W at the NW extremity where the present entrance is provided through the roof. There is an air-vent (Wth 0.2m; H 0.15m; L 1.7m) at roof level in the NW end-wall and the entrance doorway to passage 2 is 2.4m from the SE end of its SW wall. The entrance created in 1925-6 was identified as an area of collapse at the top of the SE wall in passage 2.

The above description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 17 July 2007
Revised: 17 January 2020

References

Campbell, K., Shaw, R. and G. Devlin 2018 3D Laser Scanning of Two Souterrains at Littlemill, Co. Louth. County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal, XIX, 2, 182-93.

Rynne, E. 1959 Souterrains at Ballybarrack, Co. Louth. County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal, XIV, 3, 191.

Rynne, E. 1964 Souterrain near Ballybarrack: a correction. County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal, X