Crannog

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated just off the E shore of Lough Derg on the River Shannon. A small circular stone-built island (approx. diam. 30m) which appears to have been artificially constructed with loosely piled rubble creating a stone cairn. A cashel (TN019-034005-) was constructed on top of the crannóg by Conchobhar Uí Bhriain [Conor O'Brien], King of Thomond, in the 12th century (Westropp 1911-12, 211) and was later refortified with a tower house and bawn (TN019-034001-) in the late medieval period. A stone causeway (TN019-034004-) which appears to have been recently widened and enlarged, connects the E portion of the crannóg to the mainland. Described by Cairns (1987, 11) as the site of a crannóg. The townland is referred to as Cahirconner in the Civil Survey (Simington 1934, vol.2, 160). The castle island is depicted on the 1654-7 Down Survey map of Owny and Arra barony (NLI, Ms 721).

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 4/2001).

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 21 February 2020

References

NLI, MS 721 – National Library of Ireland , The parish maps of the Down Survey of County Tipperary, attested by Wm. Petty in 1657. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 67 maps with accompanying terriers, 1786-7. Dublin.

Westropp, T.J. 1911-12 Types of the ringforts in eastern Clare (Killaloe, it's Royal fort and their history). Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 29, 186-212.

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1934 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. II: county of Tipperary - Western and Northern baronies. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Cairns, C.T. 1987 Irish tower-houses: a Co. Tipperary case study. Irish Settlement studies, no. 2. Belfast. The Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement.