What is recorded here

Half-buried in brambles on the east side of a Clare ringfort, the cave still keeps its oval stone chamber and narrow creeps though its roofs are gone. Markus Keane called it forward in 1867, and Westropp measured its full length in 1909 after the chambers had already fallen open to weather and forgetting. What was hidden there, whether for storage, ritual or flight, has not survived the collapse; only the shape of the digging remains, waiting to be remembered.

Situated in the E sector of a ringfort (CL056-044001-). The area is heavily overgrown with brambles. On inspection in 2003 the opening (Wth 0.55m; int. H 0.75m) to the Man-made underground passage was accessible on the outer slope of the bank at S. A stretch of walling (L 1.4m) extended from the entrance at E. The opening was roofed by one large lintel and led to a stone-built oval-shaped chamber (2.4m x 1.9m; H 0.9-1.15m) roofed by three large lintels. A small creep (Wth 0.38m; H 0.45m; D 1m) in the NE wall of the chamber was roofed by two large flags. The flag to the NE lay on recent clay fill. The creep led to a roofless passage (L 2.2m NE-SW; Wth 1.65m; D 1.2-1.4m) with no evident stonework remaining. Immediately to the NE another creep formed a baulk (Wth 1.1m) leading to another roofless chamber (L 1.6m; Wth 1.2m; D 1-1.2m). Some digging NW of this chamber was apparent. According to Murphy (1996, 33-6) the Man-made underground passage was first discovered in 1818 and in 1867 was examined at the instigation of Markus Keane. It was also described by Westropp (1909, 116-18) who gives the main orientation as ENE-WSW and the overall length as 36ft (10.97m). At that time the roofs had already been robbed out and the chambers were overgrown. This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 7/1978). Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 9 April 2019

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