Souterrain in Gualainn

The location of this souterrain, on a S facing slope at the foot of Croaghskearda, is marked on the surface by a very slight mound. The monument is comprised of 3 chambers connected by short creepways. The 2 larger chambers are oval in plan and lie at right angles to one another; a creepway opening off the SE side of the N one leads to the smaller D-shaped chamber. Access is gained by removing 2 loose flags which cover a gap at the SW end of the roof of chamber 1, the southernmost chamber. (1) This oval chamber, aligned WNW-ESE, is 1.95m long, 1.1m wide at base and 1.45m high. It is roofed by 2 flat slabs as are the other 2 chambers. Apart from 2 upright slabs which define the entrance to a creepway passage, the walls are entirely constructed of very neat drystone walling. There is slight corbelling, particularly of the upper 4 or 5 courses, so that, at roof level, the chamber measures 1.7 x .7m. The creepway, .4m wide, .48m long and .5m high, leads from the NE side of Chamber 1 to the SW end of Chamber 2. Its side walls are formed by upright slabs and it is roofed by 2 lintels. (2) The middle chamber is oval in plan and is 1.75m long SSW-NNE, 1.5m wide at base and 1.6m high. Pronounced corbelling of the drystone walls reduces the chamber's dimensions to 1.1 x .65m at roof level. The creepway leading to Chamber 3 exits from the SE side. It is .4m wide, .47m long and .45m high, and is roofed by 2 lintels. The side walls are each formed by 2 upright slabs. (3) The 3rd chamber, 1.2m long SW-NE, 1.1m wide at base and 1.2m high, is D-shaped in plan and is built like the others. The creepway opens onto the middle of the curved wall. Opposite this, the straight SE wall is interrupted by a .5m wide recess which extends the full height of the chamber. This houses 2 steps, the risers of which are of drystone construction while the treads are earthen. This recess, a maximum of .5m deep, is roofed by 2 slabs laid at right angles to the 2 slabs which roof the chamber. This feature may have been the original entrance and also probably gave rise to the local name for the souterrain, Staighre Chaitlín (An Seabhac 1939, 162). The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 774. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013