Man-made underground passage in Cullenagh Beg

On a rise in pastureland. Described by McCaffrey (1952, 270, no. 26a) as a ‘large L-shaped Man-made underground passage, containing vent-holes and a ‘creep-hole’ or trap’. Only a well-preserved drystone-built passage (L 6.9m; Wth 1.1-1.95m; H 0.7-1.95m), beneath a N-S running field boundary, is now evident. The access point (Wth 1.1m; H 0.7m) is on the S side of a rubble-filled rectangular hollow (L 16m; Wth 1.1m; D 0.4m) at its N end - the field boundary kinks around the hollow at this point. The N end of the passage is filled with rubble but the original bedrock floor is visible at the S end. Natural bedrock is incorporated into the side-walls. A small triangular alcove (H 1m; Wth 0.95m; L 1.35m) at SW may be one of the air vents noted by McCaffrey. A stone-filled depression (L 1m; Wth 0.5m), c. 5m to the NE of the N end of the passage may be associated. Another ‘cave’ noted towards the middle of the field (pers. comm. S. O’Callaghan) was not visible. Again, it may be related to this Man-made underground passage. Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG Date of upload: 10 September 2019