Booley hut

The National Monuments Service's description

This is one of eight huts (MA084-004001- to MA084-004008-) ranged in a cluster around the N and NE sides of a small natural basin or fold, through which a stream flows, on the lower SW slopes of Knockmore. A notable feature of this cluster is that the huts tend to occur in pairs. The location is locally named ‘Prawke’, and, according to tradition, the huts were associated with booleying. This hut sits at foot of the stony scarp on the northern side of the basin, 10m to E and downslope from a hut (MA084-004002-). It comprises a small rectangular house (NW–SE 4m, NE–SW 2.9m) adjoined on the north and south-eastern sides by two possible annexes. The hut is defined on the north-eastern or upslope side mainly by a low scarp (H 0.3m) supplemented by a bank (Wth 0.8m × H 0.4m internally) towards the southern end. Low grassy banks (Wth 1.4m max. × H 0.6m max.) also define south-eastern, south-western and north-western sides. Occasional stones protrude through the sod: one upright stone visible internally near the western corner flanks a possible entrance gap in the south-western side.

Adjoining the hut on the south-eastern side is a rectangular annexe (NW–SE 3.8m, NE–SW 2.4m max.) consisting of a flat grassed-over stony platform defined by a scarp (H 0.4m max.). A second possible annexe adjoins the hut at the northern corner, comprising a very small square area (L/Wth 1.5m) defined by a stony bank (H 0.25m max.).

The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Date of upload: 29 November 2018

References

Gosling, P., Manning, C. and Waddell, J. (eds.) 2007 New Survey of Clare Island, Volume 5: Archaeology. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.