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Man-made underground passage

Man-made underground passage

What is recorded here

Two stone-lined passages hide beneath a Cork ringfort, one in the north half and one in the south-east quadrant. Bowman recorded them in 1934 as chambers with creepways, but today a narrow opening leads into darkness that no one can enter. The foramen may have served as a storm shelter, a boundary marker or a forgotten ritual path. Whatever their purpose, the passages still hold their breath beneath the grass, waiting for someone brave enough to crawl into their quiet dark.
In N half of ringfort (CO041-08001-). Small opening (0.5m x 0.25m; D 1m) reveals stone-built chamber with two creepways; inaccessible. Bowman (1934, 544) recorded 'two Man-made underground passages...in this fort, they are lined with stones and covered with flagstones'. Second Man-made underground passage (CO041-08003-) in SE quadrant of ringfort. 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

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What survives
Recorded monument

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