Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on a low eroding cliff-edge, immediately to NE of Clashymore Harbour, on the S side of Inishmurray Island. This small enclosure (SL001-005001-) encloses a leacht (SL001-005002-), traditionally known as Ollamurray. These monuments were subjected to severe ongoing erosion/storm damage; in 2000 they were fully excavated (00E0484), and then reconstructed in 2001 by the OPW at a safer distance from the cliff-edge (O’Sullivan and Ó Carragáin 2008, 298-313).
Prior to excavation, the enclosure was evident as a rectangular area (6.2m E−W; 5.7m N−S) enclosed on the W, N and E sides by a collapsed drystone rubble wall (Wth 1m; H 0.5m). The wall on the S side had largely been destroyed by erosion at the receding cliff edge, and only a small rubble mound remained there (O’Sullivan and Ó Carragáin 2008, 169-170; 298). Excavation revealed that the upper part of the enclosing wall consisted of roughly mounded angular rubble and represented episodes of rebuilding, the latest incidences of which probably took place in the 19th century or later. However, beneath this, the primary basal level of the wall survived. It consisted of an outer face of edge-set flat angular stones, up to 0.4m high, containing a core of smaller rubble and dark peaty soil. A roughly laid paving of large, irregular flat slabs covered the space between the central leacht (SL001-005002-) and the enclosing walls, but this appears to have been a relatively late feature. (O’Sullivan and Ó Carragáin 2008, 302-7). Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal, from a layer underlying the enclosure wall and the leacht, produced a calibrated date range of late eighth to late 10th centuries, providing a terminus post quem for the construction of the enclosure (ibid. 312).
This is a National Monument (no. 117) in state ownership.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 19 February 2018

References

O'Sullivan J. and Ó Carragáin T. 2008 Inishmurray: Monks and Pilgrims in an Atlantic Landscape. Volume 1: Archaeological Survey and Excavations 1997-2000. The Collins Press. Cork.