Carnfree — Carns

On a rock-outcrop rise towards the E end and at the highest point of the broad WNW-ESE Carnfree ridge. Traditionally this is the burial place of Fraech, son of Conall Cruachna, who was a contemporary of Queen Meave (Wilde 1870-1, 249-50; Gormley 1989, 23). Circular grass-covered cairn (diam. of base 10.2m N-S; 11m E-W; H 1.7m E-S to 2.2m generally) which has a slightly dished top (diam. 6-7.5m) sloping down to the E, and has some facing stones (H 0.7-1m) and spill N-E-SW (original diam. c. 7m). The cairn was the inauguration site (RO028-069003-) of the O'Conors from the late 12th century, and probably earlier, into the 15th century (Gormley 1989, 26-8; FitzPatrick 2004, 60-8). The rite is known in detail (0'Daly 1853; O'Donovan 1891, 83-4) and required the participation of the abbots of twelve churches and the leaders of the principal Connachta tribes. The inauguration stone (RO020-057----), which is of uncertain authenticity (FitzPatrick 2004, 113-5), was removed c. 1840 (Jones 1922-3) and is now at Clonalis House (RO020-057----), near Castlerea. The cairn is within the ceremonial enclosure (RO028-069002-) and a mound barrow (RO028-251----) is c. 90m to the SE. (Herity 1983, 126-7; Waddell 1988, 15) Limited geophysical survey identified horizontal surfaces inclined to the E within the cairn, and its dished surface is thought to indicate a ceremonial or inaugural function, which may have been a medieval adaptation. (Waddell et al. 2009, 117-124) See the attached view taken from the S. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010