Discover Alone, back to main map

Man-made underground passage in Na Gleannta Thuaidh

Man-made underground passage

What is recorded here

Cahercullaun hides a narrow underground passage beneath the western slopes of Ballysitteragh mountain, where two superimposed slabs cover a mouth no higher than a kneeling wrist. The chamber breathes darkness behind its stone lip, while five aligned markers wait nearby like forgotten witnesses. People may have crawled through that small throat to escape rain, conceal treasure or simply listen for the mountain's voice.
Cahercullaun/Cathair Coileáin: Situated on the lower W slopes of Ballysitteragh mountain about 40 to 50m N of a small tributary of the Milltown river. Souterrain: A hollow in the NE sector of the interior may mark the location of a Man-made underground passage. It is 1.2m x 1.5m in diameter and .3 to .4m deep. An aperture at its W side is .2m high and extends at least .5m to W; it is overlain by 2 superimposed slabs. A short distance to SE of this hollow, 5 stones form a line 4.2m long. One of the stones stands upright while the others are prostrate. The function of this feature is not known. Westropp (1902, 699) mentions a clochaun in the interior but as no earlier accounts refer to this it is possible he was mistaken. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 573. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

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

What survives
Recorded monument

Places near here

Add to this placeAdd a picture Comment or add a tip

Explore 1,118,481 places