Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

A group of five contiguous barrows (LI032-139001-/008-) on Knockainy Hill described in 2004 as following; 'A linear group of barrows is located to the west of Doonainy cairn [LI032-139005-] and towards the south-west end of the cursus monument [LI032-139007-]. It consists of five contiguous barrows, four of which are marked on the OS maps and arranged in a line in a north-south direction. All of the barrows are contained within the banks of the cursus, but it is difficult to determine whether portions of the banks of the barrows are built on top of or against the cursus banks. The first [LI032-139001-], most southerly example, 28m in diameter, consists of a bank and internal ditch enclosing a 15m-wide inner mound. The second barrow [LI032-139002-] is partially obscured by a field fence. It measures 25m in diameter and consists of a bank and internal ditch enclosing an 11.5m-wide inner mound. The third barrow [LI032-139003-] is partially obscured by the same field fence. It shares its bank with the fourth and northernmost barrow [LI032-139004-]. The bank and internal ditch enclose an 11m-wide inner mound. The fourth barrow is named 'Carn of Uainide' on the OS map. Its eastern perimeter is obscured by a field fence. The monument is 20m in diameter and consists of a bank and internal ditch enclosing an 11m-wide inner mound. Barrow 5 [LI032-139008-], a previously unrecorded barrow, lies directly to the east of 'Carn of Uainide'. It consists of a central domed circular mound, 11 m in diameter, enclosed by a ditch, best preserved on its southern side. The outer bank appears to have been completely levelled, but on its western side it would have been contiguous with 'Carn of Uainide', from which it is now separated by a field fence' (Condit and Coyne 2004).
These barrows were described by O'Kelly (1944, 21) as following; 'A short distance to the W. of the tumulus [LI032-139005-] there are four ring-barrows. They lie close together in a line running N.S. The three southern barrows are low mounds surrounded by fosses, while the northern monument had a higher mound and seems to have had an outer bank between which and the mound there was a fosse. A large portion of it has been dug away—much of the mound and almost all of the bank. The overall diameter is 60' [18.3m], the mound itself being 18' [5.5m] approx., and 4' [1.2m] high. The overall diameters of the other monuments vary between 66' [20m] and 75' [23m] and the heights are from 3' [0.9m] to 4' 6" [1.4m]. Westropp without much evidence to support his claim, identifies these sites as the habitations of Uainide, Eoghabal, Áine, and Fer Fi, legendary figures connected with the hill of Knockainy'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 06 August 2019

See attached ASI aerial photograph ASIAP - 304/26 taken on 13/09/2002; 348/2 and 348/13 taken on 05/01/2003.

References

Condit, T. and Coyne, F. 2004 Knockainy Hill - a ceremonial landscape in County Limerick. Archaeology Ireland. Heritage Guide No. 27.

O'Kelly, M.J. 1944 A survey of the antiquities in the barony of Small County, Co. Limerick. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 4, 16-53.

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).