Indicated — Ballyelly

On the high W-facing slopes of a hill with commanding views from SW to N and within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL004-016001-). Indicated on the 1840 and 1915 OS 6-inch maps. Listed as ‘enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). A well-preserved roughly circular cashel (ext. dims. 27.2m N-S; 24.7m E-W; int. dims. 20.5m N-S; 18.2m E-W) defined by a drystone wall (T 2.6m at W; T 3.9m at E; ext. H 0.3-1.75m) which is collapsed at SSE. The outer wall-face survives (H 2m in SSW) and is frequently concealed by collapsed masonry. The inner wall-face is best preserved from S to SW (H 1.2m) and less well preserved from SW to WNW. There is less internal collapse along the perimeter of the cashel from NE to ESE than elsewhere. There is a lintled gap in the cashel wall in the WNW (ext. Wth 0.6m; int. Wth 0.4m; H 0.4m; T 1.85m) and a continuation of this feature into the interior of the cashel is indicated by a shallow trench which may be part of a souterrain. In the E quadrant of the interior, the low wall foundations of a subrectangular house of indeterminate date (CL004-016033-) abut the perimeter of the cashel wall. A low, later wall sits on top of this feature. An irregular spread of stones in the SSW may indicate a collapsed second structure. Outside of the cashel and along the perimeter in the SSE, a structure which is now used as an animal pen may have been a contemporary house site. Stone walls abut the cashel wall at W, N and E. The following image has been uploaded: CL004-016019-_01.jpg View of cashel from ESE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 9 August 2022