What is recorded here

Lisleagh is a demoted king's hall, its grand ring buried under a farm lane and a living memory of distance. The measurements are clear: forty-seven metres across, a shallow ditch, a western gate, and a second fort forty metres north. What is missing is the hand that drew the circle and the name that lived inside it. The land kept the shape but lost the story, which is why it still feels like a room rather than a ruin.

In pasture, on gentle S-facing slope. Circular, slightly raised area (diam. 47.5m) defined by low rise (int. H 0.22m; ext. H 0.7m) NW ->WSW, with shallow external fosse; at W truncated by N-S field fence, low undulation indicates position of bank to W of field fence. Bank crowned by modern field fence NW->NE. Entrance to W. Excavations as 'Lisleagh II' 1989-93 (Monk 1995, 105-116) revealed that earthen bank partially levelled and backfilled into V-shaped fosse (D 1.8m) after relatively short existence; after levelling, occupation in interior continued over inner slope of remaining bank (H 0.75m). Entrance (Wth 2.5m) apparently unrevetted; shallow post-holes and spud-stone indicate simple gate structure; two phases of paving extend into interior. Interior extensively damaged by cultivation; partial excavation revealed fragmentary remains of hearth and five circular structures. Structure to E of centre (diam. c. 4.25m) showed several repair phases; cut away to NE by later Man-made underground passage (CO027-03002-). Many other post- and stake-holes found in interior, which formed no definite pattern. Large featureless circular pit (diam. c. 1m) in centre of interior; towards SE corner of excavated area, large rectangular pit (c. 2.6m E-W; c. 1.9m N-S) contains enigmatic kiln-like structure (c. 2m WSW-ENE; 0.8m NNW-SSE). Scatters of slag and burnt clay to SSW of pit. Midway in occupation of site, relatively shallow V-shaped fosse (D 1.1m) was dug to encircle central area of site (min. projected diam. 32.5m). Concentric to it and c. 1m outside it is narrow trench with remains of large contiguous upright timbers (diam. 0.2m-0.24m). Line of fosse and palisade trench continue across and block earlier entrance. After posts of palisade rotted, replaced with flimsy stake fence. Fosse open for short time only, then backfilled level with surface; to S, circular structure with double wattle walls (diam. c. 8m) erected over backfill. Parts of backfill subsequently dug out to SE and S to create possible soakaway and kiln (Monk ibid.; pers. comm. J. Monk). Finds include a possible ring pin, hone stones, worked flint and iron-working debris. Second ringfort (CO027-029---) c. 40m to NW. See also Excavations 1991, 7-9. 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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