Cist in Kilmacar

On the gentle W-facing slope above the river Gloshia c. 1km to the E. There are good views across and along valley from N to S, view limited to W by rising ground. Kilmacar medieval church (KK010-038001-) and graveyard (KK010-038002-) are located 60m to the ENE. Indicated as a roughly circular feature (diam. c. 18m) on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map. The OS Letters (1839, 28-9) describe, 'a Moat on the other side of the road [from the church] on the west, with the site of an old Castle; this place is popularly called the Barrack' (O’Flanagan ed. 1930, vol. 1, 10). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 201-2), 'about 60 or 70 yds. [c. 55-64m] due west of Kilmocar church , there was a large cone-shaped moat or tumulus, which was removed about the year 1880. In the centre of the moat, on a level with the surrounding land, the workmen came upon an enclosure 4 or 5 ft. [c. 1.2m x 1.5m] square, built of solid masonry, but with no covering slab; it was filled up with black earth and human bones'. Carrigan (ibid.) also states that Kilmacar castle stood midway between 'the moat and Kilmocar church'. It is unclear whether the castle stood on the 'moat' in which case the mound may have been a motte, or whether it was located near to, but not on it. The reference to what sounds like a cist beneath the mound, suggests it was a barrow (KK010-038004-) . The cist is not visible at ground level. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 5 December 2018