Man-made underground passage in Boolareagh

Situated on natural rise in generally undulating terrain, in sandy soil. Field boundaries to NW and SW have been removed and road widened forming increased road frontage in front of modern bungalow. Surface is gravelled over and it is probable that the site was filled in to provide stable, solid ground. Site either under this widened section of road or under front lawn or gravelled driveway of house. Man-made underground passage was discovered in September 1964 and was surveyed by Etienne Rynne (1965, vol.IX, 188-90). It consists of a passage (1m L; c.0.6-0.6m W) abutting onto a slightly narrower passage or creep (2m L; 0.4m W; 0.58m H) which leads to a small chamber (1.1m L and W). The walls are mainly orthostats combined with very little dry-stone walling. The roof of the passage and chamber were missing, however the creep had flat stone lintels. The Man-made underground passage runs N-S with chamber terminating the N end. The original floor consisted of a darker, grittier material than the surrounding sandy soil, as if mixed with clay and small pebbles. Portion of W wall of chamber is missing but it appears to have been of roughly hexagonal plan. Plan and section published with report (ibid). Con Manning suggested that due to the small size and unusual construction of the monument there is the possibility that it was a corn drying kiln rather than a Man-made underground passage (Stout 1984, 83). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008