Enclosure in Oughtdarra

Encompassing the level summit of a high, steep-sided knoll which provides panoramic views over the surrounding upland karstic landscape bordered by the sea at W. This large, solitary knoll forms a strikingly unusual and prominent feature in the landscape, rising from a natural grassy depression towards the S edge of the upland rocky plateaux which stretch to N, and overlooking a broad sweep of undulating grassy lowlands to S. The slopes of the knoll are broken by rock-outcropping which also breaks through in parts around the summit. At its base, the knoll is encircled by dense hazel scrub, which has spread up the N and E slopes. Referred to as ‘the curious, though much levelled, hill-fort of Croaghateeaun’ by Westropp (1905, 207; 1905, 342) who describes ‘a flattened summit surrounded by the foundations of a strong ring-wall’ (int. dims. 18.28m E-W; 16.45m N-S) with walls (Wth 2.43-3.35m) composed of large blocks (L 1.21-1.82m). The enclosure was poorly preserved but with visible foundations and a SSE-facing entrance is described and depicted by Westropp (1905, 345 and 347) as faced with large blocks and ‘widening inward’ (Wth 1-1.82m). The enclosure is referred to as ‘the fairy hill of Croghateeaun (Cruach An tSidheain), crowned by a small but strong fort’ by Cunningham (1980, 18). A rough wall of close-set/contiguous large boulders encircles the roughly circular, flat summit of the knoll. The enclosed space (diam. 15-16m) more or less encompasses the full available space on the summit. On the E arc the wall is set 2-3m in from the break of slope, but at S and NW−N it coincides with the summit edge. At SW−NW the perimeter is defined by a stretch of rock outcropping with a vertical external face. A few large stones protrude from the interior surface, with a block of outcrop in the SE quadrant. There appears to be a gap in the wall at NNW, which may be an original entrance. It faces the more moderately sloping N side of the knoll. The NW side of this slope has a narrow raised spine which provides a natural ramp-like pathway which curves gently down the slope, with rock outcropping and loose stones defining the length of its outer NW face. This appears to be a natural feature, but may have been utilised/modified in the past to serve as a routeway to the summit – it is unclear whether some of the stones along its outer edge might be remnants of walling. The following images have been uploaded: CL004-053----_01.jpg Knoll from NE CL004-053----_02.jpg Knoll from NW CL004-053----_03.jpg Summit of knoll with arc of boulders, from NW CL004-053----_04.jpg Boulders on SE arc CL004-053----_05.jpg Boulders on SE arc CL004-053----_06.png Drawing from Westropp 1905, 347 Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 10 November 2021