What is recorded here

Indicated is a circular ecclesiastical enclosure in County Cork, Ireland, where a grass-covered house foundation and a small stone cairn still mark the centre of a hundred-metre ring. The landowner calls it a church, while older accounts call it an ancient burial ground, leaving the true purpose suspended between worship and death. A hidden underground passage cuts through the southwest quadrant, suggesting the site was never meant to be fully known or easily entered.

In pasture, on SW-facing slope, with view over sea to S. Circular area (diam. 100m) enclosed by field fence N->E; low earthen bank (H 0.5m) E->SSW. Levelled bank SSW->N depicted as field fence on OS 6-inch map (1903) and now visible as crop mark in aerial photograph (CASAP). At centre of interior are foundations of rectangular house site (11m NE-SW; 5.6m NW-SW) (CO134-080005-) defined by low grass-covered wall. Extension of NW wall (H 0.4m) runs W for c.16m. Circular, partially grass-covered cairn (diam. 2.3m; H 0.9m) (CO134-080004-) lies 6.7m E of house site; depression in centre filled with fist-size stones, some metal slag found. According to the landowner "church" said to be located here. 'Site of ancient burial ground' according to O'Donoghue (1986, 121). Man-made underground passage (CO134-08002-) in SW quadrant. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.