Caherdoon — Ballynahown

Defensively sited on the NW edge of a narrow spur (Wth c. 120m NE-SW; H c. 4 – 6m) which projects NW, in high, rough grazing (above 500’ contour), and within an extensive field system (CL004-027001-). A cliff face descends c. 400m to W, with short, steep terraced slopes falling beyond to W. The interior contains a souterrain (CL004-027008-) to W of centre, and four possible house sites abut the inner face of the enclosing wall at NW (CL004-027014-), ENE (CL004-027015-), SE (CL004-027016-) and SW (CL004-027017-). Traces of a fifth possible house site (CL004-027018-) abut the external wall face at SE. Recorded by Westropp (1905, 350-51) who commented, ‘Caherdoon is now getting named by the natives, “Caherlochlannagh”, a mere late rendering of “Danish fort” growing up in the decay of true tradition. [It] is an usually fine and well-preserved ring-wall, beautifully built.’ He went on to describe the monument: ‘The caher measures 105 feet [c. 32m] over all, and encloses a circular garth, 84 feet to 85 feet [c. 25.6-25.9m] in diameter. The wall is built in two sections, each with good, separate faces, and each a little over 5 feet [c. 1.5m] in thickness, or from 10 to 11 feet [c .3-3.35m] thick in all. The inner section forms a terrace from 3 (c. 0.9m] to 6 feet [c. 1.8m] high; but I saw no trace of steps up to it. The outer wall [face] has a batter of about 1 in 12 [c. 4.76 degrees] where not bulging out. The height varies, being 9 feet 6 inches [c. 2.9m] to south-west, 6 feet 2 inches [c. 1.9m] to south, 3 feet [c. 0.8m] to east and 6 feet [c. 1.8m] to 7 feet [c. 2.1m] high for much of the ring, save to the north-east, which is much demolished. … Several upright joints run up the whole height of the wall in the southern segment. The gateway faced the north-east; only the foundation of the northern pier is traceable. There are two nearly levelled loops of wall to the south and north, and the lower part of a small circular hut [CL004-027018-] – joined by side walls to the rampart - on the south-east. In the south-west quarter of the garth are two modern huts [CL004-027016- and CL004-027017-; but shown at S and SE on Westropp’s plan], inhabited down to very recent times. There is also a souterrain [CL004-027008-], 27 feet [c. 8.2m] from the western terrace … ‘. The monument was later described by Cunningham (1980, 20) as, ‘much ruined since Westropp wrote in 1905’. The monument survives today as a subcircular area (int. diams. 27.1m N-S; 23.6m E-W) defined by roughly coursed, inner and outer rectangular flagstones facing a rubble core; the largest stones used in the foundation courses. The inner wall face (max. H 1.3m at WSW; wall T 2.9m) is best preserved from NNE-E and has collapsed into the interior at ESE, SSE and NNW. The terrace on the inner wall face referred to by Westropp (ibid) survives at SW (est. H 1m; Wth 0.85m). The external wall face (max. H 2.4m at W) is lowest at N, NE and E and vertical joints, also noted by Westropp (op. cit.), are visible at SW. The monument is abutted by three fields; at NE, a roughly D-shaped field (max. L c. 65m NNW-SSE) with a straight S-side (Wth c. 48m); at SE, a larger and also roughly D-shaped field (max. L c. 68m WSW-ENE) with the cashel forming part of the roughly straight W-side (Wth. c. 65m) and at SW, a subrectangular field (L c. 42m E-W) with the cashel wall forming part of the N-side. (Wth c. 28m N-S). The fields form an almost trefoil-shaped plan radiating off the cashel. See attached images: CL004-027003-_1 Overall view of cashel from SW; CL004-027003-_2 View of cashel from S. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 17 October 2022