Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

A souterrain at Ballinlough was described (Rotheram 1893, 306) as being in a field close to the road near Ballinlough House, but its precise location is not known. It is described as: ‘being much the smallest of all I have examined. Its chamber was broken down, and filled with earth, and only a small part of its walls remained. The passage, which was 13.5 feet l(c. 4.1m) long, was only 1.5 ft. (c. 0.45m) high and 1 ft. 10 inches (c. 0.55m) wide, making it a most difficult matter to wriggle through it. The roof, walls, and floor were covered with a black deposit, probably soot, for the remains of a large fire existed all about the mouth of the passage. No doubt some unfortunate who had taken refuge here had been smoked to death. In the passage were found a flat piece of iron and one of the pipes known as “Danes’ pipes”, such as are often found in Dublin, showing that the cave had been open at a comparatively late date.’

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 25 February 2019

References

Rotheram, E. C. 1893 On some Caves in the Sileve na Cailliagh District, Co. Meath. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. 3, (1893-6)305-310