Road - road/trackway

The National Monuments Service's description

A roadway, known locally as Boithrín na Socraithe or the road of the funerals, was built to connect the W and E sides of Rathgormuck parish that are separated by the Comeragh Mountains. The E part of the road, from the Gap, called Barnavelavallagh, is marked on the Grand Jury map of Co. Waterford. dated 1818 (NLI: 16 J 4). The road rises on the W side from c. OD 320m in Carrigeen to the summit of The Gap at c. OD 460m, and descends through Graigavalla to a height of c. OD 320m (L c. 3.5km). At one time the E end continued down to roads on the lowland and on to Rathgormuck church (WA003-040001-).
It is traceable over most of its length, apart from the summit eastwards in Graigavalla where it cannot ba identified in a severe slope. It is visible as a grass and heather-covered sunken area (Wth c. 4-8m; D 0.2-0.5m), often bordered with slight earthen and stone banks. In many places the roadway has become a drain, since the opening of the surface provides an oportunity for rainwater to erode a channel, and the gradient provides a slope. In Carrigeen it is on a gentle S-facing slope, but in Graigavalla it is on a more severe N-facing slope.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of Upload: 04 October 2011