Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Burial mound
Raheennamadra, County Limerick, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Raheennamadra
- County
- Limerick
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured (1927)
- Coordinates
- 52.41692, -8.39363
- SMR number
- LI041-013003-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In pasture on the summit of Knockaunatarriff (444 ft. OD), immediately E of townland boundary with Mitchelstowndown North. A possible burial mound (LI041-013002-) lies 4m to the N, and ringfort (LI041-013006-) 25m to the NE. Not marked on 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map. Depicted on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a small oval shaped mound (dims. c. 8.6m NW-SE; 8m NE-SW) with OS Trig. station marking spot height of 444ft. OD shown standing in centre of earthwork.
Mound described by Westropp (1919, 14) as the southern of two mounds measuring ‘from 10 feet [3m] to 13 feet [3.9m] high to the east, and 5 feet [1.5m] to 6 feet [1.8m] high to the west. A fence has been made between them. The southern mound is best preserved, a very shallow fosse delimits its base, and it rises in three stages, 5 feet [1.5m], 5 feet [1.5m], and 3 feet [0.9m], in all 13 feet high [3.9m], to the S., 10 feet [3m] to the N. end. The whole work is about 90 feet [27.4m] long, the summits were flat, 13 feet [3.9m] and 15 feet [4.5m] across.’ The area of the monument is overgrown on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages.
See attached plan taken from Stenberger (1966) and Google Earth orthoimages.
Compiled by: Fiona Rooney
Date of upload: 6 August 2021
See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – 318/16 taken on 05/10/2002. 343/20 and 21 on 05/01/2003.
References
Stenberger, M. 1966 A ringfort at Raheenamadra, Knocklong, Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 65C, 37-54.
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.
Westropp, T.J. 1916-19 The later Pagan sanctuaries of Co. Limerick. Journal of the North Munster Antiquarian Society 4, 3, 157-83.
ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).
Westropp, T.J. 1917-19 The Ancient Sanctuaries of Knockainey and Clogher, County Limerick, and Their
Goddesses. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature 34, 47-67.
Nearby in the register
- Burial moundunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Standing stoneunder 1 mi
- Barrow - ditch barrowunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.