Caherballykinvarga — Ballykinvarga

On a slight rise in undulating pasture, within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-059001-), with marginally higher ground immediately to the NE. Hachured and labelled ‘Caherballykinvarga’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Labelled ‘Cathair Bhaile Cinn Mhargaidh’ on Robinson’s map (1977). Described by Westropp (1897, 123) as a well-built cashel standing up to 4.5m high and up to 5.9m wide. The wall was constructed in three sections (see his attached drawing of the wall in section). A lintelled entrance gateway faced SSE. Westropp (1915, 262) further noted a slight external batter on the wall, two internal terraces and numerous enclosures in the interior as well as ‘curious upright joints’ in the wall-face, which he believed marked the work of different gangs. Two of the joints occurred to the W of the entrance and one to the E of it (ibid. 1915, 262). Cunningham (1978, 7) has suggested that the joints probably indicated gaps that gave the workers access to the interior during construction and they were subsequently filled in. The cashel was surrounded by a chevaux-de-frise, a defensive structure made up of closely set sharp upright stones or stakes set at various angles. Westropp (1897, 124) suggested that two bands of stone were identifiable within it, an inner one consisting of densely set pillars with smaller spikes between them and an outer one consisting of less densely set stones. This large subcircular cashel (int. dims. 47.4m E–W; 45m N–S) is still well preserved even though its double-faced wall (av. int. H 1.4-1.5m; max. int. H 3m at E) is not as high as it was when recorded by Westropp (1837, 123) and it does not survive evenly all round. A number of large quarry holes are visible in it at N, NE, E, SE and S, and fallen blocks lie outside and inside its entire circuit. The wall varies in width from 1.6m at E to 2.5m at N and 5m at S and W; the widest sections probably mark where the terraces were located. Just S of the narrowest stretch of the wall a stone bench protrudes (2.5m) from the inner wall-face. The gateway lintel (L 2.4m; Wth 0.9m; H 0.4m) is still visible and the entrance passageway (Wth 1.6m) beneath it runs straight through the wall. Within the interior numerous old field walls are defined by grassed-over stone spreads. Some corrals abutting the inner wall-face between W and N may correspond to the ‘enclosures’ noted by Westropp (1915, 262). A thorn tree is growing just inside the wall at NE and some recent hand-written labels with what appears to be tracts of scripture have been attached to it. The chevaux-de-frise (Wth 18.5–31.5m) is still extant all around the cashel and is widest to the W and narrowest to the S. It is made up of large limestone pieces (H c. 0.5–1m) set upright in the ground at various angles. The two bands of stone noted by Westopp (1897, 124) were not distinguishable; the blocks seemed to be similarly placed throughout. A passage (Wth 2.7) through it at SSE leads to the entrance gateway. Another funnel-shaped passage through it was noted at N but it was unclear whether it was an original feature or the result of damage. Indentations in the outer part of the chevaux-de-frise at ESE and S do not appear to be recent. A number of features of this cashel, including its robust wall, evidence of wall terraces and the presence of wall joints, together with the chevaux-de-frise merit its association with the ‘Western Stone Forts’ class of distinctive cashels (Cotter 2012, vol. 1, 24). Another cashel (CL009-059015-) lies c. 66m to the NE The following image has been uploaded: CL009-059012-_01 aerial view from NW.jpg Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 21 March 2022