What is recorded here

Derreen West holds a dense cluster of ancient stone rings on a steep Burren ridge, overlooking Galway Bay. The main cashel survives as a broad, partially levelled bank under pasture, its entrance lost to time and modern field walls. Westropp noted in 1901 that several local rings became sheepfolds, suggesting human hands kept shaping these ancient boundaries long after their first building.

On high ground under pasture near the NW end of a steep ridge with commanding views over the lower ground and Galway Bay from WNW to NE. Hachured on the 1842 and 1915 eds. of the OS 6-inch maps. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996). A poorly preserved subcircular cashel (int. dims. 23.7m E–W; 21m N–S) enclosed by a broad bank (Wth 3.8–5m; ext. H 1–1.2m at N) with occasionally visible inner and outer facing-stones (max. H 0.2m). It is overgrown from E to S and the bank has been levelled to the S. There is no visible trace of an entrance and a modern field wall runs on the bank from S to NW. There is an unusual density of ringforts in this part of the Burren. Borlase (1897, 65) counted 20 between Derreen West and Derreen East and 33 on the slope on which they occur (including the NW-facing slope of Knockauns Mountain). Westropp (1901, 10–11) reported several of these to be largely levelled and rebuilt as sheepfolds but still believed them to be of ancient origin. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 16 December 2020

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.