Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument in state ownership No. 134. Situated on fairly level ground near the E shore of the Upper Lake at Glendalough. Described in the OS Letters of 1838-40 (O'Flanagan 1928, 200) as 'near the Reefert church (WI023-028001-) on the south side of river are two enclosures (WI023-023-) like forts, but they are not of the class vulgarly called Danes forts, but were probably enclosures for cattle'. A polygonal-shaped enclosure (ext. diam. 20m) that appears to have been rebuilt or modified in recent times with an entrance feature (Wth 2.2m) at SE. Along the inner face from N-E-S there are boulders and upright flagstones some of which appear to support the bank. Limited excavation by D. Sweetman in 1983 revealed no early features; possibly modern. Recorded by Leask (1950, 14) as ‘The Caher’ and described as ‘the remains of a circular stone fort, or Caher, much dilapidated and tree grown, which stands near the eastern shore of the Upper Lake, about midway across the valley not far from Reefert (WI023-028001-). Its walls of 8 to 10 feet [2.4m – 3m] in thickness are built in dry masonry, carefully fitted after the manner of the cahers of Kerry and Glare. The outside diameter is 67 feet [20.4m]. On the east side four or five small flags may be noticed set vertically in the face of the wall The position of the entrance is not evident but the only gap in the walls is to the south-east’. (Leask 1950, 14; OPW files)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 15 November 2012

References

Leask, H.G. 1950 Glendalough, Co. Wicklow: national monuments vested in the Commissioners of Public Works. Dublin. Stationery Office.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1928 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Wicklow collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838. Bray.