Enclosure - large enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, 120m W of townland boundary with Baunnageeragh, 250m N of townland boundary with Ballygrennan and 300m N of townland boundary with Ballycullane. Depicted on 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map as a circular-shaped area defined by a bank with wide berm forming a concentric type enclosure (overall diam. c 95m). Partially levelled monument shown on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a sub-circular shaped platform defined by a scarp from N-E and SW-W-N, delimited by field boundaries from E-S-SW, and enclosed by an outer fosse from SE-S-SW. The outer enclosing berm is not depicted on this map indicating that this feature was levelled between these map dates.
Described by O’Kelly ( 52) as a ‘Type B Earthwork’ consisting of; ‘A circular platform surrounded by a wide fosse and outer bank. The platform has a slight slope in all directions from the centre. Its max. height over the fosse bottom is 8’ and the overall diameter is 460’ [140.2m]. The structure has been damaged by the cutting of a drainage trench through it and by the building of fences around it.’ Monument described by Westropp (1916-18, 21) as a ‘Fort 350 feet [106.6m] to 300 feet [91.4m] in diameter’ with ‘two rings’. No surface remains visible on OSi orthophotograph taken between 2005-12. Trace of levelled monument visible as circular-shaped cropmark (diam. c. 35m) defined by an outer fosse from S-W-N, truncated at S by a linear cropmark of a relic field boundary running E-W on Google Earth orthoimage dated 24/09/2018

See attached Google Earth orthoimages.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 12 May 2021

References

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.

Westropp, T.J. 1916-17 On certain typical earthworks and ring walls in Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 33C, 9-42, 444-92.