Carn — Poulacarran

In pasture near the crest of a steep slope overlooking the Poulacarran Valley to the E. Hachured and labelled 'Carn' on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as 'Cairn' in the RMP (1996). This small rectangular cairn (8m N-S; 6m E-W; H 1-2m) is composed of loose field stones - with some coursed stones forming a corner (H 1.2m) at NW - and appears to be the result of - or to have been augmented by - relatively modern field clearance. However, Westropp (1900-1902, 134) recorded, ‘South of the church (CL009-075001-) is a small cairn, round which coffins are carried … .’ And this is possibly the cairn he was referring to? The practice was not recorded by the time of Swinfen's writing (1992, 9). Westropp (1906-1907, 460) further reported that a cist was covered by a cairn in Carran townland (see also Westropp 1898, 362), however, no cist is visible in this cairn. References Swinfen, A. 1992. Forgotten stones. Ancient church sites of the Burren and environs. Dublin. The Lilliput Press. Westropp, T.J. 1898 Prehistoric remains in the Burren, County Clare (Carran and Kilcorney). The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 8, 352-366. Westropp, T.J. 1900-1902 The cahers of County Clare: their names, features, and bibliography. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 6, 415-49. Westropp, T.J. 1906-1907 The cists, dolmens and pillars of the western half of the county of Clare. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 447-72. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 17 August 2022