Relickoran — Inishmurray

Located within the W half of an enclosure (SL001-004001-), on an eroding cliff face on the SE shoreline of Inishmurray Island. This leacht is part of a complex of monuments, named ‘Relickoran’ on the 1837 and 1912 OS 6-inch maps, a National Monument (no. 117) in state ownership. Subject to severe marine erosion, these monuments were archaeologically excavated (99E0381) over two seasons in 1999 and 2000; the results are described in detail in O’Sullivan and Ó Carragáin (2008, 251-298). Prior to excavation, the leacht was intact on its north side and stood to four or five drystone courses (H c. 0.7m) of well-laid small rubble, but the southern half had largely collapsed. The uppermost part appeared to have been rebuilt in the modern era, but the excavation uncovered the original, square basal outline (1.9m N−S; 1.8m E−W) of the structure, which was faced with large, flat stones on the E and S, and with thinner, edge-set stones on the W and N. On the W side, the edge-set stones were incorporated into the kerb of a paved path, which formed a circuit of the enclosure (SL001-004001-); this suggests that the leacht and path were of a single build. The enclosure, leacht and paving were constructed on the site of an active burial ground, and burials continued within the enclosure for several centuries, with a particular concentration in the immediate vicinity of the leacht. Radiocarbon dating of the skeletal remains indicate that the leacht and its enclosure, as well as the adjoining enclosure (SL001-004007-), were built sometime between the early 8th century and the 12th century. (O’Sullivan and Ó Carragáin 2008, 251-298). Two cross slabs (SL001-004004-; SL001-004008-) once stood on this leacht; they are now in the Schoolhouse/OPW conservation storehouse. Following excavation, the leacht was reconstructed in its original position by the OPW in 2001. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 8 March 2018