Cashel — Gorteenaguinnell

Situated at the top of a S-facing cliff (H c. 20m) overlooking the Glencar valley to the S and W, and on the site of the bivallate cashel (LE007-025001-). Grass-covered subcircular area (int. diam. 24m NW-SE; 23m NE-SW) defined by a stone spread (Wth 3m), with the internal wall-face preserved or rebuilt (max. H 1.45m) NW-NE. The original entrance is not identified. The wall was reduced to a grass-covered stone spread (Wth 3m) NE-SE when a rectangular annexe (int. dims 18m E-W; 17m N-S) defined by a double-faced drystone wall (Wth 0.7-1m; H 0.7-1.3m) was built to the E, connecting with the surviving inner wall-face. The inner cashel wall backed on to the cliff at either end, but the cliff-top curves outwards here, completing a circular form with a drystone wall at the edge of the cliff SE-NW. This inner wall is separated by a berm (Wth 7m) from an outer grass-covered stone spread with facing-stones (Wth 1.5m) NW-E, which backs on to the cliff at either end and is largely robbed within the annexe E-S. A house site (int. dims 4.6m N-S; 1.3m E-W) defined by a stone spread (Wth 1m; int. H 0.2m) is built on the line of the outer wall at ENE, and there is a small quarry on the outer wall at NE. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 September 2008