Enclosure in Cloonaghmanagh

In rough fern-grown pasture, located on level ground in a small stream valley, at the base of a steep SW-facing slope. The W-flowing stream is 20m to S, marking the N boundary of a broad expanse of raised rocky terrain which stretches S and W to the sea. This enclosure is not shown on the 1838 and 1919 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a subcircular area (diam. c. 19m) enclosed by a drystone wall. The wall (Wth 0.6-0.7m; H 0.7m) is uncoursed and rather crudely constructed of large, rounded stones, and appears similar in size and structure to field walls in the vicinity. A break (Wth c. 1.5m) at ESE allows access to he interior. At the time of visit the wall was almost entirely engulfed in ferns and was difficult to examine. The interior is flat and not noticeably raised above exterior ground level on its N half, though there is a slight natural drop in exterior ground level to S of the enclosure. Grass, ferns and yellow flag/iris cover the interior ground surface, which is dry and firm underfoot, contrasting with the damp ground immediately to S on the bank of the stream. The date and function are uncertain. The enclosing wall does not resemble that of a cashel. The enclosure may be post-medieval, possibly relatively recent in date. There is a possible cashel (MA105-012----) c. 200m to NE. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 1 November 2017