Earthwork in Ballynagoul

In flat reclaimed grassland, 120m E of the Glen stream and 500m SE of the confluence of the Loobagh and Maigue rivers. A figure-of-eight shaped earthwork or conjoined earthworks (overall diam. 35m NW-SE x 18m NE-SW) on poorly drained land which has been reclaimed in modern times. Earthwork consists of a raised sub-rectangular shaped area (diam. 12m; H 0.4m) defined by a low bank (H 0.4m) and external fosse (Wth 1.5m) with larger earthwork to N consisting of a low roughly oval-shaped area (diam. 17m x 14.5m) defined by a low bank (Wth 1m; H 0.3m). The southern, smaller part of the ‘figure-of-eight’ appears circular on satellite imagery but field inspection showed it to be almost sub-rectangular. It is also visible in the field but is less pronounced and difficult to photograph due to the rushes. Outline of conjoined earthworks clearly visible on OSi orthoimage taken between 2005-12. Faint traces of earthworks visible on Digital Globe orthophoto taken between 2011-13. Outline of conjoined earthwork visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 01/04/2021. The function of the site is uncertain but it may be the remains of a pre-modern habitation and/or enclosure. Curvilinear enclosures and ‘figure-of-eight’ structures are well-attested in early medieval contexts (O’Sullivan 2008, 231; Kinsella 2010, 102, 109, 121). Furthermore, this site is not visible on any OSi maps and it does not link up with the straight post-medieval hedgerows around it (though Google Earth imagery suggests that an attempt was made in modern times to drain the ditches which surround the site). See attached photographs courtesy of Dr. Eugene Costello Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Dr. Eugene Costello Date of upload: 21 February 2022