Enclosure — large enclosure in Kilranelagh

Situated at the base of the northwestern slopes of Kilranelagh Hill, on the demesne lands of Kilranelagh House which stands 380m to WSW. St. Bridget's stone (WI027-031001-) lies immediately to ENE in the adjoining townland of Cloghnagaune. The enclosing element on the E side of the large enclosure follows the line of the townland boundary with Cloghnagaune. Remains of a large enclosure recently identified (O’Driscoll 2016, 131-132) which appears to be the same site recorded by Liam Price in his field notes, where he described a large unrecorded enclosure at the base of Kilranelagh Hill, which was subsequently levelled (Corlett & Weaver 2002, 540). Price described the monument as consisting of an outer ditch approximately 10m wide with an internal bank and inner ditch measuring about 6m in width, the bank being ‘only a couple of feet high’ (ibid., 540). O’Driscoll confirmed the presence of this levelled enclosure through his examination of aerial photographs, noting a circular vegetation mark approximately 172m in diameter occupying an area of 2.37ha (2016, 132). The partial cropmark of this enclosure is visible as a curvilinear feature visible from N to E on OSi orthophotos taken 2000. O’Driscoll stated that the enclosure site and the surroundings were overgrown at that time, making identification of features on the ground difficult. The enclosure site is now almost entirely tree-covered as shown on Digital Globe aerial imagery. See attached OSi orthophoto dating from 2000 showing partial outline of large enclosure, and Google earth aerial imagery taken 22/04/2019 and pre-forestry black and white aerial image provided by Robert Hanbidge Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on information provided by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy and Robert Hanbidge Date of revised upload: 25 February 2021