Cairn - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

On a rock-outcrop rise towards the E end and at the highest point of the broad WNW-ESE Carnfree ridge. Traditionally this is the burial place of Fraech, son of Conall Cruachna, who was a contemporary of Queen Meave (Wilde 1870-1, 249-50; Gormley 1989, 23). Circular grass-covered cairn (diam. of base 10.2m N-S; 11m E-W; H 1.7m E-S to 2.2m generally) which has a slightly dished top (diam. 6-7.5m) sloping down to the E, and has some facing stones (H 0.7-1m) and spill N-E-SW (original diam. c. 7m).

The cairn was the inauguration site (RO028-069003-) of the O'Conors from the late 12th century, and probably earlier, into the 15th century (Gormley 1989, 26-8; FitzPatrick 2004, 60-8). The rite is known in detail (0'Daly 1853; O'Donovan 1891, 83-4) and required the participation of the abbots of twelve churches and the leaders of the principal Connachta tribes. The inauguration stone (RO020-057----), which is of uncertain authenticity (FitzPatrick 2004, 113-5), was removed c. 1840 (Jones 1922-3) and is now at Clonalis House (RO020-057----), near Castlerea. The cairn is within the ceremonial enclosure (RO028-069002-) and a mound barrow (RO028-251----) is c. 90m to the SE. (Herity 1983, 126-7; Waddell 1988, 15)
Limited geophysical survey identified horizontal surfaces inclined to the E within the cairn, and its dished surface is thought to indicate a ceremonial or inaugural function, which may have been a medieval adaptation. (Waddell et al. 2009, 117-124)

See the attached view taken from the S.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 24 August 2010

References

Wilde, Sir W.W. 1870-78 Memoir of Gabriel Beranger, and his labours in the cause of Irish art, literature, and antiquities from 1760 to 1780, with illustrations. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Vol. 11, 33-64, 121-52, 236-60, vol. 12, 445-85, Vol. 14, 111-56.

Waddell, J. 1988 Rathcroghan in Connacht. Emania 5, 5-18.

Waddell, J., Fenwick, J. and Barton, K. 2009 Rathcroghan: archaeological and geophysical survey in a ritual landscape. Dublin. Wordwell.

Jones, W.A. 1922-3 The proclamation stone of the Connaught kings. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 12, 46.

Herity, M. 1983 A survey of the royal site of Cruachain in Connacht, 1. Introduction, the monuments and topography. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 113, 121-42.

FitzPatrick, E. 2004 Royal inauguration in Gaelic Ireland c.1100-1600: a cultural landscape study. Studies in Celtic History 22. Woodbridge. The Boydell Press.

Gormley, M. (compiler) 1989 Tulsk parish in historic Maigh Aí. Aspects of its history and folklore. Author