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Castle — ringwork in Clonlost

Castle — ringwork
Castle — ringwork in Clonlost
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Why this matters

Built during the early medieval period, likely by a local Gaelic lord or chieftain for defensive and residential purposes. The site is important as a rare surviving example of a ringwork in the region, illustrating early settlement patterns and defensive strategies in rural Ireland.

What is recorded here

Situated in pasture. Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a roughly circular bivallate enclosure (approx. overall dims. 61m N-S; 60m E-W). Ringfort (WM020-035----) lies c. 50m to ESE. Monument described in 1970 as a roughly circular-shaped area defined by two widely spaced banks which are almost reduced to a scarp in each case. The inner scarp defines a suboval area and is higher than the outer. The wide counterscarp defines a circular area and is not concentric with the inner. Old tree-stumps are visible growing on this intervening space. A modern field bank has been constructed against the foot of the outer scarp from ENE-E-SSE. The entrance is represented by a gap in each bank at SSE. A radial bank intersects the W sides of the gaps. There is a second radial bank at NNE. The interior rises slightly from the perimeter and some stones protrude above the surface. Traces of a hut site (WM020-034001-) are visible within the centre of the interior. Monument is visible as a tree-lined bivallate earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. See attached plan and profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 06 June 2019
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