What is recorded here

Skirke is an almost circular henge in County Laois where clay was scooped from inside the bank to leave the centre higher than the edge. A standing stone still marks that raised middle, while a later motte and bailey reshaped the same ground. The place records both ancient ceremony and medieval reuse, with the northern gap preserving the shape of its changing uses.

An almost circular enclosure (dims. c. 96m E-W, c. 90m N-S,) defined by bank (Wth 8-9m, int. H c. 1m, ext. H 2.5m-3m) and external fosse (Wth c. 7m) except at N. This site appears to have been a henge-type monument before it was adapted as a motte and bailey (LA021-021002-). The banks were originally formed by scooping out the clay from inside the line of the bank leaving the central area, higher than the extremities of the enclosure. This is a typical feature of the henge-type sites in Ireland (Cunningham 1987, 163-4). Standing Stone (LA021-021004-) in centre of henge monument. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

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