Enclosure in Cill Mhic An Domhnaigh

Calluragh Burial ground (KE052-105001-) /An Cheallúnach: Situated on the lower E slopes of Mount Eagle, this oval enclosure contains within it the remains of a clochaun, a possible souterrain and a cross-slab. A 2nd cross slab was listed at the site by Crawford (1912, 235), and Curran (no.4) recorded the discovery of 2 quernstones here but the present whereabouts of these is not known. Another cross-slab (KE052-106----) stands against the E side of a field fence c. 45m to SE of the site. The enclosure measures c. 68m N-S x 46m E-W internally and is defined for the most part by a very low bank no more than .3m high externally and .lm internally. For a 13m long stretch at NW however, a stone wall, up to 2m high externally and .15m internally, follows the line of the enclosure, and, though it is maintained as a field fence, the lower c. lm is composed of distinctly larger stones and may represent the original enclosing wall. There is an ill-defined gap in the bank at SW. The site is now divided E-W by a field fence and the S part is further bisected by a N-S field fence. These only partly follow the line of the fence which divided the site E-W in the early 19th century. The depiction on the 1st edition of the OS map indicates that this latter followed the same line as the W half of the present E- W wall, then turned S for a short distance before continuing E across the enclosure. The latter section is visible today as a very low bank no more than .1m high. Clochaun (KE052-105003-): Only the NW half of this structure survives, incorporated into the SE side of the junction of the dividing walls. It was apparently 3.05m in diameter (Macalister 1899, 213) and its wall stands to a maximum height of 1.3m, the original walling being distinguishable from the overlying field wall by a change in masonry style. The lintelled doorway at NW measures .67m in height, .73m in width and at least .85m in depth but it is now blocked by the later wall. The origin of the stone and earth mound that straddles the dividing wall to S of the clochaun is not known; it is .5m high. Souterrain (KE052-105004-): Curran was locally informed of a souterrain which led to the clochaun. Both Curran and Macalister noted the presence of a 5.4m long stony ridge known locally as the grave of Daire Donn or Leaba Mhic Donn, Leaba Dháire or Leacht Dháire and this they interpreted as the probable remains of the souterrain. It is not clear to what feature on the site this refers, though its location on Macalister's plan appears to correspond with the low bank here interpreted as the remains of the dividing wall marked on the 1st edition of the OS map. The W end of this latter feature is linked to the clochaun by a stony ridge, no more than .35m high, and perhaps it is this to which they refer. Near the centre of this ridge are 2 stones set on edge in an E-W line; these may be gravemarkers or part of a grave. Cross-inscribed Stones: (1) (KE052-105005-) This stands directly SE of a low circular mound of earth and stones, .6m high. It is a narrow rectangular pillar measuring 1.25m in height x .27m in width x .1m in thickness. The E face is inscribed with a cross with large circular expansions to arms and shaft, the latter terminal now almost completely spalled away. The W face is inscribed with a plain Latin cross above which is an unusual bar with a rectangular, downturned projection which almost meets the head of the cross. (2) (KE052-105007-) The only record of the 2nd cross-inscribed stone appears to be a rubbing in the RIA (Crawford). On it was carved a Greek cross with expanded ends and below this a saltire cross with double spiral ends, each quadrant occupied by a small cup surrounded by a circle. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 860. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013