Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a stretch of cliff-bound coast on the southern shore of the island, 2.1km W of the Abbey to SE of Toormore. A notably long narrow sea promontory (L c. 200 × Wth c. 70m max. at sea level), its long axis lying NE–SW, that is defined by sheer cliffs up to 25m high on either side. Of particular note is the deep, narrow, precipitous cove—labelled ‘Ooghaniska’ on Ordnance Survey maps—along its eastern side. The cliffs on the opposite side of this cove overlook the promontory itself.

The promontory fort is named but not clearly indicated on first and third editions of the Ordnance Survey maps (1840; 1920): the name is recorded by Mac Neill (1913, no. 105, 24) and by Ó Muraíle (1999, 109, 112, 121). The fort occupies the long narrow summit of the promontory and is defined at its north- eastern or landward end by a bank and what Westropp (1911a, 24) eloquently labels as ‘the skilful adaptation of natural features’. He described and drew it in some detail (1911a, 17, 24–5; 1914, 328–9), identifying five or six defensive elements (1911a, pl. III, labelled a–e and A). This account will follow his labelling (see Pl. III),, beginning at the outer, northern end of the promontory and working inwards (southwards).

At its landward end, a substantial and slightly curved grassy earthen bank (L 20m × Wth c. 3.9m) crosses the promontory on a rough E–W axis. Labelled by ‘the clay bank’ Westropp (1911a, 24, pl. III, a), it is up to 2m high on its southern (internal) side but only 0.7m high externally. A number of large boulders protrude from the external face, suggesting that it may have been revetted originally. Its broad summit is uneven but slopes generally towards S. No trace of the ‘slight indications of an external fosse’ (Casey 1999, 154–5, Mayo 62) were noted. A very narrow gap (Wth c. 0.75m) in the bank towards its W end may mark the site of the original entrance.

Immediately inside this bank, are two possibly natural features that Westropp (1911a, pl. III, 24) describes as a ‘terrace 6 feet [1.8m] wide’ and ‘a partly formed fosse 9 feet [2.75m] wide ... [running] E.N.E. and W.S.W.’, respectively. Although they do resemble a berm and fosse, the latter in particular is only fosse-like towards the eastern side of the promontory (Wth c. 5.8m, D c. 1m): towards the western side it fades out into a natural S-facing slope.

Beyond this to S, he acknowledges that the ‘next platform’ (Westropp 1911a, pl. III, 24) is ‘mainly natural’ (Pl. III, c). This culminates in a jagged rock along the eastern side of the promontory, beyond which is a second fosse-like feature (Wth c. 4m), Westropp’s ‘d’ and ‘another fosse’ (1911a, 24). This too is limited in its extent to E side of the promontory, the western side at this point being occupied by a large grassy hollow that falls away westwards to the cliff edge.

Access to the interior of the fort entails crossing this hollow beyond which a steep narrow path along the western edge of the promontory leads to the summit, skirting a large natural rock outcrop: Westropp’s ‘tower of rock’ (1911a, pl. III, A). The occupation area appears to have coincided with the grassy summit of the promontory (L c. 59.4m × Wth c. 20.1m max.). This is now mantled with a lush sward, uneven under- foot and up to 0.3m deep at time of visit. Traces of a grassed-over perimeter bank are present in many places, albeit much degraded externally since Westropp’s day. He describes it variously as the ‘east rampart’, ‘the wall’ and ‘the bank’ (Westropp 1911a, 24–5). It is now best preserved along the eastern side (Wth 2m × H 0.75m max. along the north-eastern side) and is least discernible at the southern side.

The northern end of the summit is generally flat and is occupied by two well-preserved houses and a possible hut (MA084-005002-, MA084-005003-, MA084-005004-). However, beyond them, the interior slopes gradually downwards to S before terminating at a high grassy scarp (H c. 2.2m) that falls to the exposed rocky end of the promontory. No trace was found of the ‘straight traverse’ mentioned by Westropp and shown by him as a broad bank running N–S across the interior immediately N of the oval house (MA084-005003-) (1911a, pl. III). Furthermore, the ‘three terraces or rather ledges, each a foot [0.3] high’ shown in the southern part of the interior (1911a), are now only intermittently visible: they are best defined along the western side where they are up to 0.5m in height.

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.

Casey, M. 1999 The coastal promontory forts of Ireland. A survey of counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Clare. Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.

MacNeill, J. 1913 Clare Island Survey: placenames and family names. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 31 (1911-15), section 1, part 3, 1-42.

ó Muraille, N. 1999 The place-names of Clare Island. In C. Mac Cárthaigh and K. Whelan (eds) New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 1: history and cultural landscape, 99-141. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy

Westropp, T.J. 1911 Clare Island survey: history and archaeology. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 31, Section 1, Part 2, 1-78.