Hilltop enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In woodland area on the summit of a steep N-S ridge with panoramic views on all sides. Annotated 'Lisgorey' on 1840 OS 6-inch map with trig. station marking spot height 494 ft. OD in centre of monument. Moroe Fair Green located 140m to SSE and enclosure (LI007-003----) 180m to S. Lynch (1932, 44) identifies the fort of Lios Ghuaire as one of the royal forts listed in the Book of Rights as the fort of Eibhliu, daughter of Guaire. The hilltop fort is situated on a prominent spur of Slieve Felim, N of the village of Murroe (ibid). According to O'Donovan this hilltop was formerly known as 'Sliabh Eibhlinne inghini Guaire' the mountain rainge of Eibhliu, daughter of Guaire (ibid., 43).
Monument described by the Ordnance Survey as following; 'This fort is about 2½ chains [50m] in diameter and 3 feet [0.9m] high, composed of earth, with a green flat surface. It is placed on an exalted hill, terminating almost at the top to the extent of the fort and commanding a fine view over a great part of the surrounding country. It has taken its name, it is said, from a man named Guaire, about whom a folk tale is current in the district' (OSNB Abington Parish, 41).
Site visited in 1999 and described as a circular-shaped area (approx. dims. 26m N-S x 28m E-W) defined by a scarp and steeply falling ground to the E and W. The E and W quadrants of the interior have been raised to form a level surface. No entrance feature visible. A field boundary is visible at N and NW side of the enclosure respecting and curving along the scarped boundary of the site. The interior is lightly overgrown with briars and gorse with scrub woodland on the southern and eastern side. The outline of the tree-covered monument standing in a woodland area is visible on Digital Globe orthophoto taken 2011-13. Outline of monument not clearly visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 28/06/2018.

See attached Google Earth orthophoto

Compiled by: Edmond O'Donovan and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 26 June 2020

References

OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.

Lynch, J.F. 1932 Lissavoora. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 37,42-6.