Earthwork in Clooncah (ballymoe By.)

In grassland immediately E of a hilltop enclosure (GA007-041----). This record was listed in the non-statutory ‘Sites and Monuments Record’ (issued 1987) and the statutory ‘Record of Monuments and Places’ (issued 1997) as ‘Battlefield site’. The field report (1984) records the following: ‘According to local tradition, this was the site of an old battlefield. There are a large number of shallow rectangular hollows and pits aligned in rough lines across the length and breadth of the field. These pits are now quite faint except in the western side of the field. Elsewhere they have been largely filled in by . . . (owner). The pits seem to extend into the adjoining field to the west. The series of pits does not appear to be a natural feature; it seems quite likely that they represent the shallow trenches of opposing forces. The tradition of a battle in this field also points to this.’ (SMR file). It does not seem likely that these shallow trenches and pits were created in a military context let alone by two opposing armies compressed into a single field. The name of the townland 'Clooncah' (Cluain Catha), which may be translated as the ‘lawn or meadow of the battle’ or, simply, ‘battlefield’ could be interpreted as referring to this site or have given rise to the local tradition for a second battlefield (GA007-039----) c. 800 to the north-west. There is no historical record of a battle having taken place at either location and although it is possible that the origins of the townland name may reflect some conflict or engagement, pending further evidence, it cannot be accepted as indicative of a battle proper. (Alcock et al. 1999, no. 4054) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 8 August 2017