What is recorded here

Farm machinery broke the surface in Coolcraheen in 2003, exposing an oval chamber hidden inside a possible rath. The chamber has two earth-cut passages, one curving east with a construction shaft at its end and one sloping northwest under debris. Flat stones at the chamber’s apex suggest lintels once helped carry the roof. The place reads as a made underground room, not a natural cave, probably built to keep dry, hide things or be used in rituals tied to the rath above.

In a possible rath (CO134-112002-). This Man-made underground passage was discovered in 2003 when the ground collapsed under the weight of farm machinery; it was subsequently investigated. The collapse resulted in an opening (2m E-W; 1.52m N-S; D c. 1.5m) which gave access, via the roof, to an oval earth-cut chamber. Most of the roof of the chamber had collapsed. The walls curve inwards and the roof may have been partially composed of lintels as some flat stones were noted at the apex of what remains of it. There are two earth-cut passages from the chamber. The E passage (L 1.2m; Wth 1.13m; min. H 1.09m) has a curved roof, 0.7m below ground level and it narrows towards the E. A construction shaft (Wth 0.9m; H 0.5m) is visible at its E end. The floor of this passage is covered with debris. A small recess (Wth 0.5m; H 0.5m) occurs on each side. The NW passage (L 1.4m; Wth 0.7m; H 0.75m) slopes downwards and is 1.4m below ground level. It is largely obscured by collapsed debris. (Ryall 2003c) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009

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