Enclosure in Kelshabeg

Not indicated on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps, but clearly visible on recent OSi aerial photographs, and marked on the most recent OS ITM map. In rough, common grazing lands, on the W-facing slope of a ridge, with commanding views S over lowlands to Mt. Leinster, as well as Kilranelagh Hill nearby to the W, and NW towards Brusselstown and Spinans Hill. The site is intervisible with the large enclosure at Keadeen to the north (WI027-43----) and 'Crossoona Rath' in Boleycarrigeen (WI027-038----). While the area around the enclosure is overgrown with gorse, the interior is grassy and generally gorse-free, however, gorse does obscure some of the enclosing bank/wall. An oval area (diams. c.70m E-W; 53m N-S) is defined by an earth and stone bank at the N (Wth. 2.8m; H 0.5m), which has been largely robbed out along the E where material may have been used in the construction of the nearby stone wall. Along a short section at the WNW where the enclosure comes to a sort of point and where the ground falls away, the enclosing element has been reduced to a scarp (H 1m). At S and SW the enclosing element takes the form of a collapsed stone wall (Wth 2.2m; H 0.4m). The entrance appears to be at the S, where two stones (H 0.70m and 0.85m) set on edge (with a third loosely jambed between them) appear to define the W side of the entrance. The E side is overgrown with gorse, but 2.8m E of these stones another large stone may define the eastern side of the entrance. A a small circular hut site (WI027-087001-) lies to SE of centre within the enclosure. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 23 October 2012