Souterrain in Cloonmore (clanmorris By.)

Incorporated into a NNE–SSW field boundary, located on the slope of a small ridge or hill, on top of which, 12m to E, is a graveyard (MA112-034001-) enclosing a church (MA112-034----). The OS Letters (1838, p. 453-4 (188)) record that to south of the ruined church was 'a spot where there was formerly an entrance to a cave that ran underground…and all that is memorable as connected with the cave is that a schoolmaster, it is said, taught in it, when schools were suppressed in Ireland and that a Priest was wont to celebrate Mass for a congregation therein when persecution was exercised against Priests in this Country.' There is no trace of a souterrain to S of the church but an opening into a stone-built chamber or passage is located to W of the church and graveyard. The opening (Wth 0.5m N–S; H 0.55m) is located at the base of the W-facing side of a NNE–SSW field fence, bordered immediately at W by a road. The chamber extends to E into the slope of the hill. The opening reveals a rectangular chamber or passage (1.9m NNW–SSE; 1.35m ENE–WSW; H 1.3m) defined on the N, E and S sides by walls of drystone construction, and roofed by a single large stone slab. The walls, constructed of horizontally laid rough slabs, incline inwards gently to an upper projecting course of corbel slabs which support the roof lintel. Loose stone rubble and earth conceal the base of the walls and the floor of the chamber. No openings are apparent to suggest a continuation of the souterrain further east or south into the body of the hill. On the W side the souterrain appears to have been truncated by the road, although remnants may underlie the road. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 24 June 2013