Ecclesiastical enclosure in Cloghanecarhan

National Monument No. 228. Located on a gentle S facing slope at the foot of Foilclogh mountain, on the E bank of a small stream, this site provides broad views across boglands to Ballinskelligs Bay at S. Known locally as 'Keeldarragh' (Lynch 1909, 164), it is approximately circular in plan and is enclosed by a bank which features an entrance at E and an arrangement of pillars at W. This latter feature may represent a second entrance. Within the interior is a circular hut, three possible leachta and a cross-slab. An ogham stone is now located outside the E entrance, and a souterrain was recently revealed immediately outside the enclosure at WNW. The enclosed area measures 29m N-S x 31m E-W and is delineated by an earthen and stone bank which survives to an average height of 1.1m above internal ground level at N. The bank is up to 2.5m wide and is severely denuded at S. It is neatly faced internally at N and E with small slabs and some large boulders. The sides of the entrance gap at E are revetted by upright slabs and the internal angle at N features an orthostat, .8m high. Incorporated into the bank at W are two pairs of tall stones, one pair on each face of the bank, while a third upright occurs midway between the two S examples. A .55m high slab stands on edge against the inner faces of the two external stones. Both Lynch and Henry regarded this arrangement as an entrance feature (1909, 165; 1957, 86). Slightly to N, the remains of a later house abut the external face of the bank. Hut (KE089-011003-): Located in the SW quadrant of the enclosure are the sod-covered remains of a circular hut with an internal diameter of 5m. The stone foundations survive to a maximum height of .3m above external ground level and average 1.35m thick. Ill-defined gaps at NE and SW indicate possible entrances. Leachta: The largest (KE089-011004-) and best preserved of the three leacht-type features occurs at NE and measures c. 4.25m x 2.9m; E-W. It is partly defined by upright slabs set on edge, which average .4m high. The interior is slightly raised above the surrounding ground level and is composed of stone, including some quartz. Two similar features occur close together nearby to SW. These average 3.3m x 3.2m and are defined at S by upright slabs. Cross-Slab (KE089-011002-): This slab now lies face downwards close to one of the leachta in the NW quadrant of the site. It is rectangular and measures .54m x .26m x .08m thick. The inscribed face bears a Latin cross with a slightly curving terminal to its upper shaft. Ogham Stone: This ogham stone originally stood at the E entrance of the site (Lynch 1909, 166), but now lies on two concrete mounts just outside of it at S. It measures 2.47m long. As a palimpsest the inscription is difficult to decipher. Macalister (1945, 224) provided the reading: D[. . .]A[.C?.] AVI DALAGNI [MAQI C. . .?] superseded by EQQEGGNI MAQI MAQI-CARATTINN Souterrain (KE089-011005-): An opening to a souterrain is located c. 5m outside the enclosing bank of the site at WNW. It was uncovered in 1984 when the landower levelled a short bank which radiated out from the site. The accessible portion of the souterrain consists of a 5.2m long passage which runs WNW-ESE and averages 1.1m wide and 1m high. Its sides are of drystone construction and its roof is formed of transversely disposed lintels, .4m to .8m apart, which support longitudinally laid slabs. Towards the W end of the passage there is a partly collapsed creep way in the S side-wall, through which the souterrain appears to continue to S. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 936. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013