Trahanacorresh — Inishmurray

This clochan, traditionally known as ‘Trahanacorresh’, is located in an ecclesiastical enclosure (SL011-011001-) known as ‘The Cashel’. A large, drystone cell or clochan lies within the extreme north-east arc of the Cashel wall, immediately adjacent to the north-east entrance. Access is via a short, narrow, sunken passageway from the cemetery (SL001-001-029-) leading to a few shallow steps which descend into the doorway. This passes between a low stone retaining wall on one side and the outer face wall of the building on the other. An arrangement of slabs and rubble forms a small bay or stall within one side of the passage. The building itself is subrectangular on plan, with rounded outer corners, and rises to a roughly domed or beehive roof. As at Toorybrennel (SL001-001003-), a broad scarcement is carried around the exterior at shoulder level. In this case, however, it is a less regular feature: at the outer or north-east face it is formed by the surface of the Cashel wall and it is absent on the west front, over the doorway. Internally, the building is divided into three chambers. The principal chamber rises to a corbelled roof formed by large slabs. Access to a small, low chamber to the south is via a low doorway or creepway. Immediately above this is a second small chamber set below the corbelled roof. Access between these smaller chambers is via an opening in the slabbed ceiling of the lower one. The above description is derived from the survey of the archaeological remains undertaken in 1998-99 and published in J. O’Sullivan and T. Ó Carragáin 2008 Inishmurrary. Monks and pilgrims in an Atlantic landscape. Volume 1: Archaeological Survey and Excavations 1997-2000. Cork. The Collins Press. Date of upload: 15 June 2012