Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, prominently sited on top of a hill providing excellent views in all directions. There is an enclosure (MA074-013----) located c. 80m to SW at the base of the hill.
Slightly raised, circular area (int. diam. 20.3m N–S; 21.7m E–W) enclosed by a drystone wall (Wth 3m at N; 3.4m at S; int. H 0.45-0.6m at S; ext. H 0.9m at N, 1.6-1.8m at S). The cashel occupies the full width of the hill summit.
The original cashel wall survives to a height of three to four courses and has a flat, sod and moss-covered upper surface. It is wider on the S arc than elsewhere along its circuit, and this may be to create greater stability at a point where the slope of the hill is more pronounced. The inner and outer faces are constructed of large stones, mostly horizontally-laid, with the external face incorporating noticeably more massive blocks and slabs. The external wall face is intact to a height of 0.8-1m around the entire circuit. The inner wall face is best preserved on the S half but elsewhere, has tumbled.
The cashel wall now serves as a field boundary and the remnants of the original wall have been modified and topped with later walling around its entire circuit. At SE–WNW a later drystone field wall (Wth 1-1.8m) has been built on top of the outer edge of the cashel wall but at NW–E the inner face of the cashel wall has been rebuilt or topped with later walling (Wth 0.8m; int. H 1.5m at N).
There is a break in the wall at E, now blocked up with loose stone, which may be an original entrance. Present day access to the interior is through a low area/break (Wth 2m) in the wall at SE. There is another narrow break (Wth 0.5m), also blocked up with stones, at WNW.
The interior is level and grassy. There is an opening into a souterrain (MA074-001002-) in the W half of theinterior. A low linear rise (Wth c. 1m) extends from the opening through the centre of the interior to the cashel wall at ESE.
There is a moderate growth of hawthorn, blackthorn and brambles around the perimeter. A concentration of small stones on the top of the wall at NE–E is most likely the result of field clearance.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 31 May 2021