Man-made underground passage in Raheen (garrangibbon Par.)

On quite steep E-facing slope in undulating terrain, under pasture. Ringfort (TS078-030001-) known locally as 'The Raheen' was said to have been ploughed out about a hundred years ago (Prendergast 1972, NMI). Man-made underground passage in NW quadrant, the entrance is marked by a mound of stones (dims. c. 4m x 2m)on top of the bank, with capstone at ESE end, probably above Chamber 3 of the Man-made underground passage. The Man-made underground passage was discovered in 1972 and was investigated by Ellen Prendergast for the National Museum of Ireland. According to Prendergast (NMI files) the Man-made underground passage is located close to the most easterly edge of the ringfort. It consisted of 'three chambers linked by two narrow passages, orientated East-West. It was excavated into the earth and stone-lined throughout' (ibid.). Chamber 1, oval in plan (max. Wth 1.5m; max. H 1.1m) measured 1m in length including its portal passage at its W end. It was lined with vertical flagstones up to max. H of 0.65m with a corbelled roof of small flagstones and boulders. At W end of Chamber 1 there was a well-constructed portal passage (dims. 0.6m H x 0.45m Wth x 0.65m L) formed of two upright slabs surmounted by a large lintel and partially blocked by a horizontal sill stone. This gave access to Chamber 2. This was pear-shaped in plan (dims. 2.4m L x 0.85m max. Wth; 1.35m H) stone lined with lintelled roof. At SW end a long, narrow, sloping curved passage retained by drystone walling and lintelled roof, led to Chamber 3. This, the largest chamber, is oval in plan (dims. 5m L x 2.1m max. Wth, 1.55m H) and constructed with upright slabs, corbelling and lintelled roof. At the NW angle there is a blocked portal extending NW which may lead to another chamber or the orginal entrance (ibid.). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011