Ecclesiastical enclosure in Corr Áille

Calluragh burial ground (KE034-112003-): This site lies on the fairly steep NE slopes of Reenconnell, on the E side of the 'Saint's Road' which leads to the pilgrimage site on the summit of Brandon mountain (KE034-112001-). It consists of a roughly oval, stone-walled enclosure, within which are a clochaun, 2 leachts, a cross-slab and some graves which probably relate to the reuse of the site as a calluragh burial ground. Two clochauns, one of which contains a souterrain, lie directly outside the enclosure at NE, utilising the enclosure wall as part of their structure. The enclosure measures 34.5m N-S x 28m E-W internally and the cashel wall varies from .4 to 1.6m in height and from .6 to 1.75m in width. Access to the interior was provided by a 1.7m wide entrance at S which is now blocked by a large slab. Commencing 6m N of the entrance, an internal dividing wall extends N for 13.5m and then ENE for a further 4.5m. This averages about .45m in height and .85m in width and the masonry is of markedly poorer quality than that of the cashel wall and clochauns. Outcropping rock contributes to the uneveness of the ground surface within the enclosure and several of these outcrops are incorporated into the dividing wall. Apart from the leachts, the only recognisable grave lies directly NW of the clochaun and is defined by a number of slabs on edge which surround a low mound of earth and stones up to .45m high. A single stone on edge near the cashel wall at NE may be a grave marker. Leachts: Located in the E sector of the site, the best preserved of these features measures 4 x 4.95m and consists of a roughly rectangular mound of stones retained by drystone walling up to .65m high. A small mound of stones adjacent to its S side may have been a similar feature and it is in this that the cross-slab stands. Cross-slab (KE034-112006-): The visible portion of the slab measures 2.48m in length but it is broken in two, the larger section standing erect in the mound of stones, the smaller fragment lying loose beside it. Its E face is inscribed with 2 crosses, one above the other. The present lower cross is equal-armed with bifurcated terminals which form rough semi-circles; a short groove occurs 9cms below the lower arm. The present upper section of the slab, including the smaller fragment, is inscribed with a Latin cross with similar bifurcated terminals, but that at the head develops into 2 large spiral motifs which occupy the spaces between the head and arms. At present this latter cross stands on its head and it may be that the slab is not in its original position but has been re-erected upside down. Clochauns (KE034-112004-): The circular hut in the interior has an internal diameter of 4m and its corbelled drystone wall, c. 1.6m thick, stands to a maximum height of 1.17m. The break in the inner face at E may mark the entrance but extensive stone collapse confuses this part of the structure. A rough attempt was made to create a terrace for the 2 huts outside the cashel wall and the E edge of this terrace is faced with rough dry stone masonry, up to .7m high, for a length of c. 11m. The best preserved of these huts measures 7 to 8m in diameter externally and its corbelled drystone wall stands to a maximum height of 1.75m. A lintelled opening in the SW part of the wall leads to a drystone-built souterrain (KE034-112009-) which is now inaccessible but which can be seen to run NW along the line of the cashel wall. The wall of the 2nd hut is now largely reduced to mounds of stone collapse, but in the vicinity of the .7m wide entrance at SE it is still preserved to a height of c. 0.4m. This hut measures at least 3.3m in diameter internally. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 832. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013