What is recorded here

Under a Cork ringfort, men cut a narrow chamber and roofed it with heavy stones before history forgot their names. Lane-Fox pulled back the earth in 1865 to reveal ogham marks still fresh on three caps. The passage bends southwest into darkness, inviting wonder about the people who crawled through it, prayed there or hid when danger came.

In SW quadrant of ringfort (CO072-070001-). Discovered in 1865 by A. Lane-Fox (Pitt-Rivers) (Twohig 1987, 43). McCarthy (1977, 309-10) described quadrangular earth-cut chamber (L 4.5m; Wth 2.43m; H 0.6m; long axis N-S) roofed with two courses of capstones. Capstones supported by six pillars placed longitudinally in rows of three in chamber; first course of capstones laid transversely, second laid longitudinally (three of these have ogham inscriptions: (CO072-070003-, CO072-070004-, CO072-070005). Possible second chamber at N end not explored. Entrance at NW end of chamber, partially closed by slab, to earth-cut passage (L 4.57m; Wth 1.21m; H 0.54m) which slopes gently upwards to surface. Passage runs W initially, then bends to SW. Possible second chamber at N end of chamber 1 not explored. Man-made underground passage now closed up; ogham stones in British Museum. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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