Settlement cluster in Kilconnell

In pasture, to the N, E and SE of the castle (TS061-100002-) and bawn (TS061-100003-) there are a series of humps, hollows and some more defined linear and occasional curvilinear banks. According to Simington (1931, vol. 1, 202) Kilconnell contains ‘a habitable Castle Bawne & Oarchard with a few Cottages, & the walls of a good dwelling house some few enclosures of quicksetts’. Earthworks are visible on aerial photography (CUCAP AYO 63, 10/07/1969) and according to Cahill (1982) ‘ground inspection identified very extensive remains of a village clustered around a large pond. Individual house sites and plots can be noted’. A curvilinear bank, defining a semi-circular area (c. 40m) ENE-WSW, has intermittent traces of a levelled bank WSW-ENE indicating an oval area. An L-shaped bank (L 20m ENE-WSW) has a short return (L 7m) to N at the W end and is to the ENE of the curvilinear bank. It is truncated by a linear bank (long-axis ENE-WSW) which cuts across the centre (L c. 38m). Another linear bank (L 42m) runs NW-SE and curves (c. 48m) at its SE end towards the field boundary, with a gap (Wth 6m) towards the SE end. It does not continue into the arable field to the E. There is an L-shaped bank (L c. 6m N-S) to the SW with a return of 5m at its S end to W. There is a pond to the W. A linear bank (L 30m) extends (long-axis N-S) from the NW of the pond and another bank (L 13m) extends from its W side. The former bank continues (long-axis N-S) for c. 6m and curves at its N end to the E for 7m and terminates at a low mound (dims. 4.5m E-W; 4m N-S). Another bank, curving for c. 6m and then straight for 16m, extends to the W. This bank continues N-S c. 12m and then extends 10m to W with a return c. 15m to N, indicating a rectangular area (dims. 18m N-S; 10m E-W) open to the N. The bank continues N-S for c. 34m and peters out c. 20m to WSW of the bawn. A bank (long-axis N-S) (Wth at top 2m; total Wth 4.25m; int. H 0.15m; ext. H 0.15m) extends from a point c. 20m to the WSW of the bawn and extends c. 90m to the N. It turns at a right-angle at the N end (L 44m) and continues on the same axis for 12m before turning to the NNE for minimum length of 100m, across the field, to E of the church (TS061-100001-). A linear depression (basal Wth 1.35m; overall Wth 4m; Dth 0.15m) flanks the E side of the bank and is probably for drainage purposes. Another bank, almost parallel, c. 11m to E, originates c. 5m to N of NW corner of bawn wall. This bank (Wth at top 1.5m; total Wth 4.65m; int.H 0.4m; ext. H 0.2m) extends c. 22m (long-axis c. NNW-SSE) and turns gently to NNE for 48m and continues into the field containing the church. It is possible that these latter banks define a former trackway. Other humps, hollows and intermittent banks to W and N of castle (TS061-100002-) and bawn (TS061-100003-) yet nothing discernible. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2014