What is recorded here

Claidh Dubh is a one-and-a-half-kilometre earthen scar along the Cork-Limerick border, the smallest fragment of a much larger broken line. People once claimed it stretched from sea to sea, but no unbroken path connects its three surviving parts. The border still casts a shadow across the fields, inviting imagination to complete what measurement refuses.

Extending E-W along Cork-Limerick border (L 1.6m). One of three sections of Claidh Dubh; longest section c. 30km to SSE (CO018-001---); third section in E Cork (4255). Recent research (Verling 1988, Doody 1996) has involved excavation of two portions of longest section (see CO018-001---) and inspection of entire earthwork. Verling (ibid., 38) noted pair of banks (S bank: ext. H 0.4m; int. H 0.9m; N bank: ext. H 1.6m; int. H 2.1m) at E end c. 5.4m apart; possible double banks at W end separated by long narrow fields (Wth c. 10-12m); road edges S bank. Doody (1996, 24) noted slightly raised dry area (Wth 3.5m) on N side of and parallel to bank, where surrounding land is boggy; may be similar to trackway found during excavation at Ballydague (CO018-001---). Described by Westropp (Verling ibid., 15) as 'formidable mound'; otherwise little documentary or local knowledge of earthwork. Tradition that Claidh Dubh stretched from sea to sea (ibid., 11) but continuous line between three known sections has never been established. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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