Cowlagh (in Ruins) — Liss

Cowlagh/Cabhlach: This ruined house is located in pasture about 750m N of Castlecove, overlooking Kenmare Bay to S. Of rectangular plan, it is built of coursed rubble bonded in a lime and gravel mortar. All of the quoin stones have been removed. It measures 12.85m NW-SE x 7m NE-SW internally and its walls survive to an average external height of 2.25m. Traces of rendering are preserved on the external wall-face. The building has two sets of opposing windows, positioned towards either end of its side-walls, which feature coursed jambs and splayed rubble ingoings. They average at least 1.15m high. The windows positioned at the NW end are .6m wide, while the two at the SE end measure .26m and .45m wide. A pointed doorway is located off-centre on the NE wall. It is formed of an arch of pitched stone above coursed jambs, now partially defaced. Its slightly splayed ingoings retain the socket for a drawbar, and most of its rear arch has fallen. A nib-hole, preserved at the springing of the arch on its SE side, served to secure the wooden centring for raising the rear arch. Almost opposite the doorway is a breach in the SW wall, but the build-up of debris and field clearance material in the interior of the building prevents any determination of its original nature. Three long, rectangular sockets, at least 1.3m high, .3m deep and .4m wide on average, are located towards the NW end of the building, one occurring in each of the side-walls and the third centrally positioned in the NW wall. Their sides are ragged and their upper sections have collapsed. Bland describes the roof of this 'ancient house' as having stood on 'large beams, placed perpendicularly in the wall, the spaces which they occupied still remaining' (1825, 28-9). The building is locally known as a church. 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. 1481. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 1 August 2013