Bullring

The National Monuments Service's description

Encircling the summit of Skeagh Hill with extensive views in all directions. The outline of a circular shaped enclosure known locally as the 'Bull Ring' is depicted on the 1837 OS 6-inch map. A low mound (WM017-075----) marking the OS trig. station is depicted in the centre of the enclosure on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. The flat-topped mound stands in the centre of a large, well-formed circular tree lined earthwork (approx. diam. 84m) enclosing an area (approx. 1.5 acres) referred to as a Bull Ring on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map and in the OS Name Book (No. 50, p.36a). The low mound standing in the centre of the enclosure is clearly visible on oblique aerial photographs taken 15/07/1966 (CUCAP APE037/038).
Described in 1971 as a natural mound with some rock visible in its sides and having a very low sub-triangular shaped platform on top which is associated with an OS trig. station. It is uncertain whether this is a prehistoric burial mound or natural rock outcrop or the remains of an artificial mound constructed by the Ordnance Survey in the 19th century. The large circular-shaped enclosure appears to be the remains of a post-1700 boundary of a 'Bull Ring'. Monument visible today as a low mound enclosed within a large circular-shaped tree-ring on Digital Globe aerial photography.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 21 December 2018

References

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com