Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, immediately SW of a road that marks the townland boundary with Oolahills East and 40m S of Shanaclogh House. Located in the NE quadrant of a field system (LI033A006001-), Oola Castle (LI033A008002-) and earthwork (LI033A008001-) lie 330m to the NE and a deserted medieval village (LI033A007----) lies 380m to the NE. Not marked on OSi historic maps. In 1935 excavations were carried out on this earthwork by F.T. Reilly, following the discovery of a pin by the farmer while digging in the fosse a few years previously (NMI Topographical Files). Reilly described the monument as follows; ‘Owing to the levelling of the rampart and the filling of the fosse, the fort now consists of a roughly circular platform, some 80 feet [24.3m] in diameter, situated on part of a natural rise and elevated about two feet [0.6m] above the surrounding marshy country. The fosse, where not obliterated, is marked by a wide shallow depression.’
Three trenches were excavated one in the interior and two extending through the site. The excavation was described as follows; 'The North-South trench was 130 feet [39.6m] long; 4 feet [1.2m] wide and averaged 3½ feet [1m] deep. The East-West trench was 154 feet [46.9m] long, 3ft. [0.9] wide and averaged 3 feet deep.’ Excavations in the fosse recorded ‘a layer of 12-18 inches [0.3-0.45m] of barren, tough, stony clay overlying an irregular though continuous charcoal stratum. From this level were recovered many bones of animals use for food, including red deer. Artefacts included; a portion of a broken quern; an iron pin; a mass of iron. No trace of any earlier occupation of the site was found; the under-lying stony clay appeared to be undisturbed subsoil.’ The depth of the fosse could not be obtained due to waterlogged conditions and drains. Excavations in the interior were ‘48 [14.6m] by 6 feet [1.8m], immediately to the South of the East-West axis was cleared to the level of undisturbed earth, disclosing an irregular line of stones which may form portion of the foundation of a dwelling. Artefacts from this area included: a flint arrowhead; fragments of flint pebbles; and a bone marrow scarper.’ (Riley NMI File). The monument is visible as a circular enclosure on oblique aerial photographs taken 20/07/1968 and 10/07/1969 (CUCAP AVT046; AYO038). The partially levelled monument is visible on OSi orthophotograph taken between 2005-12 and on Google Earth orthoimage dated 11/03/2014. A circular-shaped area is visible on OSi orthophotograph taken between 2005-12 to the immediate S of the monument, however the excavations recorded drains at the site and some of these cropmarks may represent post-1700 drainage works associated with landscaping of lands belonging to Shanaclogh House.

See attached CUCAP aerial photographs and Google Earth orthoimages.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of Upload: 22 April 2021

References

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com

Riley, F.T. 1935 Fort in Td. Of Shanaclogh East, Oola, Co. Limerick, National Museum of Ireland Topographical Files.