Barrow - bowl-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

On a NNW-facing slope, in pasture with moderate views to N and S, 115m W of a townland boundary with Monaster North. Enclosure (LI031-005----) lies 125m to E. Annotated ‘Sheenafinnoge Fort’ (Sídh na Fionnóige (hill of the raven) on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map (OSNB Monasteranenagh Parish). Depicted on 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a small, subcircular-shaped mound. Referred to by Westropp (1920, 372) as Síd Asail and described as a ‘holy mound’ in the vicinity of a pair of conjoined ringforts (LI031-010002-) indicated as the assembly place of the Óenach Cairbre, which lies 1.1km to SE. According to Westropp (1919, 19) an iron sword and mace were excavated from the mound in the 1800s and sent to the National Museum of Ireland. Cantwell (1955, 48) recorded the following about 'Sheenavanogue. Sidhe na BhFeannog, the fairy mound of the scald crows. This mound was partially opened upwards of a century ago and a sword and axe, both of iron, were found in it. It is thought that it was the burial site of soldiers slain in the 1579 battle between Malby and the Earl of Desmond and that it thus marks the scene of the conflict, but while it may have served this purpose it was undoubtedly a mound sacred to the sidhe or fairy-folk'.
Monument surveyed by the ASI in 2007 and described as a raised circular-shaped mound (4.7m N-S; 4m E-W) the summit of which has a depression enclosed by an earthen bank (Wth 8.6m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 3.15m) with the remains of a fosse (overall Wth 10.5m; basal Wth 2.0m; D 0.15m) best defined from ESE-SE-S-SSW, with a causewayed entrance (Wth 4m) at SSW and an outer bank (Wth 7.1m; int. H 0.45m; ext. H 0.85m) visible from NE-ENE and from ESE-S-SSW. The summit of the small mound has a hollow-like appearance probably the result of the excavation carried out on the earthwork in the 19th century. Monument is visible as an oval-shaped tree-planted earthwork on OSi aerial orthoimage taken 2005-2012, on Digital Globe orthoimage taken 2011-2013 and on Google Earth orthoimage taken 28/06/2018.

See attached Google Earth orthoimage and sketch plans, cross-sections and photographs surveyed, drawn and taken by the ASI. Also sketch plan of the assembly place of the Óenach Cairbre and other associated monuments in its vicinity, on the floodplain of the Camoge River (after Westropp 1920, 373).

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 27 October 2020

References

Westropp, T.J. 1916-19 The later Pagan sanctuaries of Co. Limerick. Journal of the North Munster Antiquarian Society 4, 3, 157-83.

Westropp, T.J. 1919 The ancient places of assembly in the counties Limerick and Clare. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 49, 1-24.

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.

Cantwell, D 1955 More place-names of Mid Limerick: the parish of Manistir. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 7, 46-52.

Westropp, T.J. 1920 The assembly-place of ´Oenach Cairbre and Síd Asail at Monasteranenagh, County Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 35C, 363-77.