What is recorded here

Machinery first broke through the roof in 1968, revealing a chamber that had already been opened, buried and blocked with a large stone. The western chamber measured about three metres across, while a narrow eastern passage stretched at least four and a half metres into darkness. Built beneath a levelled ringfort in County Cork, it remains a hidden room where human hands shaped stone, sealed choice and memory under the earth.

At W side of and extending underneath bank of levelled ringfort (CO035-01901-). Recorded by O'Flanagan (1844, 101) as 'subterranean chambers'. Investigated by O'Kelly and Shee (1968, 45-6) after roof of chamber was penetrated by machinery. Initial inspection showed that chamber was previously opened at the same point and then backfilled and a large stone used to block the opening. Site consisted of roughly circular stone-built chamber (diam. c. 3m; H 2.6m) with corbelled roof; creepway (H c. 0.5m; Wth c. 0.5m) at E side to stone-built passage (min. L 4.5m; Wth c. 2m; H c. 2.3m; long axis E-W) which tapered at both ends. Dimensions of passage suggest use as a chamber also; sides and W wall corbelled to enable it to be roofed by very short light lintels; E end blocked but probing suggested that passage extended further to E. No visible surface trace. 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.