What is recorded here

Twenty feet across and five feet thick, the circular wall still stands thirty metres west of Ballyvourney graveyard, its rubble core holding the memory of hammers ringing through damp nights. People interested in iron smelting first built wooden houses there, then cleared the rotting timber and raised the ground before laying the stone that survives today. A well sits six feet south of the door, its water still drawn by those who walk the St. Gobnait pilgrimage, while crucibles and knife fragments buried beneath the floor wait for someone to imagine the hands that dropped them.

Circular hut site, c. 30m W of Ballyvourney graveyard (CO058-034003-), known locally as St. Gobnait's House; excavated by M.J. O'Kelly in 1951 (O'Kelly 1952, 18-40). Excavation showed two periods of occupation with little or no interval between. Firstly, rectangular wooden house (or houses) built 'by persons interested in iron smelting' (ibid., 36). Due to dampness this structure cleared away and area raised 6ins. On this was built circular structure with floor diameter of 20ft; wall 5ft wide with inner and outer stone facing and rubble core. Door faced S and retained by two large jambstones (CO058-034002-), mistakenly marked 'Galláin' on 1940 OS 6-inch map. Roof probably of thatch. Numerous pits in interior, associated with iron smelting debris. Among the finds recovered were items associated with metal working, like crucibles and tuyere fragments (Edwards 1990, 87); domestic items included a spindle whorl, 5 iron knives and fragments of whet stones and querns. The only decorative finds were an iron bead and a jet bracelet. No dating evidence recovered. Well (CO058-034011-) (diam. 18ins; D 2ft 6ins), 6ft S of door of house, thought to be contemporary with it; now reconstructed with stone surround and two steps leading down to water; venerated as holy well (O'Kelly 1952, 20). Hut site is conserved and now first station in local pilgrimage of St. Gobnait. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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