Barrow in Rochestown

On the summit of a hill in undulating hilly terrain, in pasture, overlooking a fording point of the River Suir c. 500m to the WSW. There is a lot of limestone outcrop in the vicinity, particularly immediately NE of the mound. There are extensive views in all directions, except to the S which is limited by rising hills. Several mountain ranges are visible including the Comeraghs to the E, the Knockmealdowns to the S-SW and the Galtees to the NW. A cairn (TS075-064----) is visible on the summit of Bain Mountain in the Galtees. A roughly circular low grass-covered mound (diam. 36m N-S; 34.6m; H 0.3m in S, 0.86m in N and 2.1m in W over a very gradual slope) identified by Bob Withers. There is low contiguous kerbing (L 2m; stones av. 0.4m x 0.2m, H 0.12m) visible at the base of the mound in the NW sector and other stones at irregular intervals around the base. The summit has been quarried into, forming an entrance (Wth 4.6m) on the NE side, opening out to a roughly oval-shaped depression (diam. c. 25m) which extends westward and southward into the mound. The NW portion is obscured by thick brambles. There is a slightly deeper hollow (dims. at base of slope c. 19m N-S; 6.3m E-W) in the SE quadrant. There are two mature hawthorn trees (maybe c. 50 years old) within the hollow which provide a rough terminus post quem for the quarrying. Within the hollow there is a large flat boulder (dims. 2.93m x 1.9m; T 0.3-0.45m) and a number of smaller boulders, some of which are earthfast, immediately to the SE. The location and morphology of the mound, including kerbing, suggest that this is probably a prehistoric burial mound. See attached photographs: TS082-111----_01 Mound from the WSW TS082-111----_02 Mound from SW TS082-111----_03 Hollow from the NE TS082-111----_04 Boulders within hollow from E TS082-111----_05 Large flat boulder from N TS082-111----_06 Kerbing in NW sector Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 17 February 2021