Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

Located just off the summit of a prominent hill on the N-facing slope. This consists of a corbelled and lintelled passage (Wth at floor 1m; Wth at roof 0.7m; H 1.2m; L 11.4m plus) aligned ENE-WSW with the original entrance, now blocked, at WSW. The passage slopes down to the E and about half way along on the N side a passage (Wth 0.7m; H 0.8m; L 1.75m) leads N to a beehive chamber (diam. 2m) that is partly rock-cut at the base where the modern entrance was located. At the E end of the main passage a narrow doorway (Wth 0.5-0.67; H 0.87m) enters a beehive chamber (diam. 2.2-2.38m; H 1.93m) 0.45m over the level of the floor. From this chamber a doorway (Wth 1m; H 0.9m) at ground level leads ESE through a short passage (L 1.25m) and through another doorway (Wth 0.6-0.7m; H 0.9m) that has a single stone on its SW side into a final beehive chamber (diam. 2.2-2.43m; H 2.2m). There is an air vent (Wth 0.27-035m; H 0.22-0.25m) over the passage to the last chamber.

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 upload: 10 July 2007
Amended: 22 January 2020