Souterrain in Cuilsheeghary Beg

In the SE quadrant of a cashel (SL040-162----), straddling a N−S stony scarp/internal division, which marks a drop in interior ground level in the E half of the cashel. The visible remains consist of a roofless passage (L c. 7-8m E−W; Wth 0.8m at W end, c. 1.4m at E end; D 0.5m) of drystone construction. The W half of the passage (L 4-4.5m) is evident as a sunken pit faced with drystone walling; the wall face on the N side is relatively intact, but on the S side sections have slumped or collapsed. The extreme W end of the passage is poorly defined, with just a few stones protruding at surface level: it appears to be partly infilled with soil, or perhaps slopes up at this end. The E half of the passage projects to E of the N−S internal division/scarp which extends across the cashel interior. Here, the external face of the walls are built up with a stone bank to compensate for the drop in ground level, so that instead of being sunken, this end of the passage appears raised above interior ground level. The souterrain is thickly engulfed in overgrowth, and difficult to examine in detail. The original depth of the passage is uncertain as the base is filled with woody debris. Attached images: SL040-162001-_01: Souterrain viewed from NW SL040-162002-_02: Stone facing on N side of roofless passage Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 5 October 2018