Cairnfield in Clashganny West

On the opposing slopes of Barranacullia and Knocknagearagh in the Knockmealdown Mountain range, both slopes overlooking a river valley, the river flows into the River Suir c. 3.5km to the N at Newcastle. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (unpublished 1996) identified c. 70 cairns on the SW slopes of Barranacullia in an area of 70 hectares , running over 1km N-S and c. 700m E-W. The majority straddle the 700-800ft contour, with some just below and others above these contours. The most northerly cairn is 17.8m NE of an enclosure (TS091-009001-) and is composed of sandstone rubble (dims. 4.1m N-S; 4m E-W; H 0.5m). There is also an oval cairn (dims. 4.6m N-S; 3.5m E-W; H 0.5m) 14m N of the enclosure and at least four low cairns 10-20m to NNW. Another cairn (dims. 4.2m N-S; 3.9m E-W; H 0.19-0.65m) composed of sandstone and quartz rubble is located 35m W of a possible hut site (TS091-009006-). On the SE slope of Knocknagearagh O’Keeffe (ibid.) identified a cluster of c. 7 clearance cairns c. 180m SW of an enclosure (TS091-009008-) and another cluster of c. 50 cairns S of this, in an area of 17.5 hectares, running over a distance of c. 500m N-S and c. 350m E-W, with an enclosure (TS091-009007-) near the northern limit of this cluster and two possible hut sites (TS091-009010-; TS091-009011-) in the SE. These clearance cairns straddle either side of a 700ft contour. A number of enclosures (TS091-009001-; TS091-009007-; TS091-009008-; TS091-009009-; TS091-009012-), hut sites (TS091-009003-; TS091-009004-; TS091-009010-; TS091-009011-; TS091-009015-), a possible ring-cairn (TS091-009002-) and a field system (TS091-009013-) are associated with these clearance cairns. A larger cairn (TS091-009016-), which may not be a clearance cairn, is located c. 14m E of a possible hut site (TS091-009006-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 February 2014

Cairnfield in Clashganny West is a Neolithic cairnfield, dating to the 4th–3rd millennia BCE. Its location within a mountainous landscape suggests it was part of a wider ritual or funerary landscape associated with early farming communities in the region.