Man-made underground passage in Rathbane

Located on a rise on an undulating, low-lying landscape. A| Man-made underground passage chamber was discovered c. 1920 when a field bank was being built. It is described as circular ’7.5 feet in height, and 13 feet in diameter (c. 2.3m; c. 4.6m). A passage 3.5 feet high, and 2.5 feet wide (c. 1.05m x c. 0.75m) leads from the chamber in an easterly direction… I found that after leading 25 feet (c. 7.6m) it suddenly curved, and after passing a few feet farther it narrowed, and curving upwards, apparently towards the surface, was terminated by a large stone’ (O’Connell 1920). It is still extant in a small oval wood. he above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 5 September 2018 O’Connell, P. 1920 Miscellanea: Rathbawn Man-made underground passage. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 50, 63-4.