Carran

4 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Carran, from 3,072 m² (0.31 ha, 0.76 acres) to 1,044,159 m² (104.42 ha, 258.02 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 7 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, or as GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Carran in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

No planning application touches the townland of Carran in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: Moneen Mountain SAC 000054
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Moneen Mountain 000054

Recorded monuments

• CL009-072001 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On level ground with restricted views, in rough pasture and karst limestone. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. This poorly preserved small subcircular cashel (int. dims. 14.4m N-S; 13.6m E-W; ext. dims. 26.8m E-W; 25.3m N-S) is defined by a stony bank (Wth 5-7m; int. H 0.4-0.6m; ext. H. 0.8-1.7m) with very limited traces of an outer wall-face visible at S and W. A cashel (CL009-074002-) lies c. 185m to the E. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 6 April 2022

• CL009-074001 Field system
  Description

  A field system (c. 800m N-S; c. 540m E-W) stretching across Poulacarran and Sheshymore townlands in an upland area of exposed karst and some scrub cover. Irregular field walls extend across the whole area with some concentration close to associated cashels (CL009-074002-, CL009-165001- and CL009-219----). Extensive field systems with prehistoric and medieval elements extend over most of the Burren uplands. Those currently visible on aerial or satellite imagery are outlined for mapping purposes but it is likely that they continue under scrub and meet in certain areas. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 6 September 2021

• CL009-074002 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  At the edge of a plateau, in rough pasture and bushes within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-074001-), with land immediately to N-NE sloping into Poulacarran Valley. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Referred to by Westropp (1898, 359) as a ‘coarsely built, much dilapidated irregular caher’. This perhaps subcircular cashel (diam. c. 28m ENE-WSW) has been partly levelled; only its S half is extant. It is defined by a scarp (Wth at S 3.4m; H 1.6m) from E to SW. Scant remains of an outer wall-face are traceable from E to SW. A later drystone wall is built over this (combined H 1m) from S to SW. A cashel (CL009-219----) lies c. 77m to the SE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 6 April 2022

• CL009-074003 Enclosure
  Description

  At the edge of a N-facing cliff (H c. 15-20m) above Poulacarran Valley, with land also dropping away severely from E to W. In rough pasture and scrub within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-074001-). Indicated on the OS 25-inch plan (1897) and hachured on the 1920 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. This D-shaped enclosure (18.6m N-S) with straight N side (L 20.8m) is defined from E to NW by a stone wall (int. H 0.1-0.3m; ext. H 1-2m) with a well-made outer face. There is only a short section (L c. 3m) of low wall along the sheer cliff from NW to E. The wall has collapsed outward down the steep slope from S to SW. Stone spill (Wth 1.9-3.6m) obscures the very low inner wall-face. The cashel is surrounded on all sides by cliffs and steep slopes. The ravine at W may have been created artificially for defensive purposes. A level causeway of bedrock (L 10m; Wth 3.2-6.5m; H c. 1.5m) was left uncut at W, providing the only convenient approach. The entrance is at W, where the causeway (Wth here 6.5m) meets the enclosure wall (outer wall-face H 1m here). The entrance is marked by a large sill-stone (L 1.8m) at the base of the wall at the S side of the causeway, with vertical joints in the wall-face above. The interior is generally level but the NE corner is c. 1m lower than the rest, with a natural bedrock step between. There is a hut site (CL009-074004-) in the centre of the enclosure. There is a natural cave in the cliff immediately to the N of the enclosure, marked on the 1920 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. This cave is accessed by a path leading down from the E end of the causeway. Here a ramp (L c. 5m) extends down to W, along the very steep N-facing slope. The ramp then turns E back across the slope-face and continues down (L c. 10m) to a platform (c. 8m below the enclosure). Here the funnel-shaped entrance to the cave (Wth c. 5m, narrowing to c. 3m; H c. 2m, decreasing to c. 1m) leads to a chamber which is pear-shaped in plan (c. 8m E-W; c. 5m N-S; max. H 1m), with a substantial layer of sediment on the floor. The chamber narrows at the W (Wth c. 3m) where there seem to be two sediment-filled ‘escape tunnels’ extending to W. The roof of the cave is gently rounded, almost level. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 6 April 2022

• CL009-074004 Hut site
  Description

  Situated in the centre of an enclosure (CL009-074003-), this subcircular hut site (int. dims. 5.3m E-W; 4.15m N-S; ext. dims. 7.1m E-W; 6.35m N-S) has well-defined grass-covered walls (Wth 0.75-0.95m; H 0.2-0.4m) which incorporate some quite large stones/boulders (max. L 0.5m; Wth 0.5m; H 0.37m). The wall incorporates three upright stones (H c. 0.8m) at E. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 6 April 2022

• CL009-076 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  In hawthorn overgrowth in low-lying pasture at the W end of the Poulacarran Valley, with steep slopes rising c. 50m to the S and c. 80m to the W. Indicated and labelled 'Tobermacreagh' on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. This name may be an anglicisation of 'Tobar Mac Creiche' ('Well of the Son of Plunder'), i.e., St Macreahy (Kirby 2021). This poorly preserved and overgrown holy well is defined by a rectangular (11m N-S; 1.4m E-W) drystone wall (Wth c. 0.6m) which has fallen in at the W. The well was intentionally filled in in recent times, following two accidents here (ibid.). There is a cement trough immediately to the N, and a moss- and blackthorn-covered cairn (diam. 4m; H 0.8m) 2m to the S. The well lies in the W sector of a circular enclosure (c. 20m E-W; c. 20m N-S) defined by a tree-covered earthen bank (Wth 2m; max. H 1m) with the remains of a stone wall on top. There is an entrance gap (Wth 1.2m) at the W of the enclosure, adjacent to the well. In 1997, a local resident stated that there were no patterns or traditions associated with this well, other than a belief that the water here could help cure sore eyes. References Kirby, T. 2021 Saint Macreehy's Well, previously Tobarmacreagh, Carran. The Clare Holy Wells Project. Available @ https://heritage.clareheritage.org/places/holy-wells/saint-macreehys-well-previously-tobarmacreagh-carran Accessed 16-8-2022 Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 16 August 2022

• CL009-078001 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated on the floor of Poulacarran valley. Surrounded by a ravine (Wth 20m; D 5m) on all sides and very overgrown with hazel scrub. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the SMR (1992) with the number CL009-078---- and also as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996) with the number CL009-078001-. A hachured enclosure is indicated on both the 1840 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps. On inspection in 1997 this was found to be a subrectangular enclosure (c. 25m N-S; c. 20m E-W) of modern construction defined by a drystone wall (max. Wth 0.8m; H 0.6-1m) with stones set upright. The wall is built on the sod and there is some spill where the wall has collapsed. There is no stone facing or spread pre-dating the walls. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 21 March 2016

• CL009-105001 Enclosure
  Description

  On a slight rise on a plateau, in an area of rough pasture, hazel and exposed limestone pavement. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. This rectangular enclosure (int. dims. 10m NE-SW; 9m NW-SE) is defined by the remains of a drystone wall (Wth at NE 0.6m; H 0.7m) which has largely collapsed and is reduced to a stone spread (Wth 3m; ext. H 0.5m). It is overgrown with scrub at NW. There is a stile-like entrance gap (Wth 0.5m), marked by upright stones, near the N end of the SE wall. Just to the N of this is a small flat cairn (3m NE-SW; 2m NW-SE). Although hachured on the OS maps, this enclosure appears to be relatively modern in date. A hut site (CL009-105004-) lies c. 45m to the NE, a possible wedge tomb (CL009-105002-) c. 20m to the SE and a cairn (CL009-105003-) c. 20m to the SSE. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 1 June 2022

• CL009-105002 Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
  Description

  On a plateau in an area of rough pasture, hazel and exposed limestone pavement. Partly covered by a modern cairn, this possible wedge tomb is defined by two roughly parallel lines of upright limestone slabs, oriented broadly E-W and 0.95m apart. There are two slabs on each side. On the N side, the W stone (L 0.75m; H 0.6m; T 0.05m) slightly overlaps the N face of the E slab (L 0.9m; H 1.24m; T 0.1m). On the S side, the W slab (L 1.05m; H 1.1m; T 0.1m) is partly overlapped to the S by the E slab (L 1.1m; H 0.4m; T 0.15m). The loose stones of the overlying cairn are packed between and to the N of the upright slabs. Another cairn (CL009-105003-) lies c. 12m to the SW and there is an enclosure (CL009-105001-) c. 20m to the NW. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 1 June 2022

• CL009-105003 Cairn - unclassified
  Description

  On a slight rise on a plateau, in an area of rough pasture, hazel and exposed limestone pavement. This small conical cairn appears to be relatively modern in date. A possible wedge tomb lies c. 12m to the NE and there is an enclosure c. 20m to the NNW. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 7 June 2022

• CL009-105004 Hut site
  Description

  On a plateau of limestone pavement in an area of rough pasture and hazel. This subrectangular hut site (int. dims. 7.6m N-S; 6.5m E-W) is defined by upright limestone slabs (max. H 1m). One slab on the E side may have a small cupmark on its inner face. An enclosure (CL009-105001-) lies c. 45m to the SW. The following image has been uploaded: CL009-105004-_01.jpg View from N Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 7 June 2022

• CL009-106001 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On a gentle NW-facing slope in hazel and scrub, with a gryke (Wth c. 10m; D c. 1-2m) extending N-S immediately to the E. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. This subcircular cashel (ext. dims. 28.6m ENE-WSW; 26m NNW-SSE) was constructed of a double-faced stone wall (Wth at NE 2m) that subsequently collapsed resulting in the present extensive stone spread (Wth 6.5-11.6m; int. H c. 0.3-0.9; ext. H 0.5-1.2m) that defines it. Traces of the original outer wall-face survive almost all around its circuit and is best preserved at S (max. ext. H 1m). The inner wall-face is most clearly visible at NE. Two amorphous depressions within the wall spill at SSE appear to be modern as does a small rectangular structure outside the wall-face at WNW, where the wall is particularly broken down. The original lintelled entrance (Wth 1.05m; est. min. H 2m) at S is mostly blocked by rubble. Wallace (1933, 247-8) noted that the doorway was capped with two large lintels, an outer lintel, with a smaller one below it that was separated from it by a course of stones, and an inner lintel. A third large lintel had fallen and was lying across the broken inner jamb of the doorway. On inspection the only change noted was that the stones between the outer lintel (L 2.7m; H 0.35m) and the smaller one (L c. 1.15m; Wth 0.23m; H 0.2m) beneath it were gone. A stone-lined passageway (L 3.5m; Wth 1.4m) extends into it into the cashel. There is a souterrain (CL009-106003-) in the N half of the interior. A substantial field wall extending northwards off the cashel at WNW may be associated with it, as may several other walls in its vicinity. Another cashel (CL009-106002-) lies c. 30m to the E. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 10 June 2022

• CL009-106002 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On a rise sloping gently in all directions except to the SW, in an area of hazel and scrub with a gryke (Wth c. 10m; D c. 1-2m) extending N-S immediately to the W. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. This subcircular cashel (ext. dims. 29.6m N-S; 27.15m E-W) was constructed of a double-faced stone wall (Wth at E 1.6m) that subsequently collapsed resulting in the present extensive stone spread (Wth 5.5-7m; int. H c. 0.4-0.5m; ext. H 1-1.6m) that defines it. The outer wall-face, which was probably rebuilt, is clearly visible from SSW to SW and from W to NNW, with short sections at NNE, NE and E. The inner wall-face survives at E. A lintelled entranceway (Wth 1.15m) at S had collapsed by the 1930s when noted by Wallace (1933, 248). The interior rises to a stony circular mound (diam. 8-10.4m; H 1.3m) at N, on top of which there is a modern ring of loose stones that may be the ‘hut sites’ referred to by Wallace (ibid.). Just to the SE of the mound there is a possible souterrain (CL009-106004-). An old wall runs from it to the wall spread. Another cashel (CL009-106001-) lies c. 30m to the W. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 10 June 2022

• CL009-106003 Souterrain
  Description

  Situated within the N half of the interior of a cashel (CL009-106001-), this souterrain (visible L c. 6.4m) is oriented N-S. A modern access point, around which a drystone structure is built, has exposed its middle section. To the N of this, the intact souterrain passage (L 3.4m; Wth 1.2m; H 0.75m) is covered by lintels, with limited corbelling of the walls. Wallace (1933, 248) described the walls as three or four courses high and noted that the N end of the passage was terminated by a large flat slab. To the S of the access point, the covered passage is mostly blocked by two intentionally placed stones but it can be traced beyond these (L 1.4m) further to the S. It then turns SE and is blocked by stone collapse. Above ground it can be traced further to the SE (L 2m; est. Wth 0.9m) until it is obscured by dense vegetation and rubble. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 10 June 2022

• CL009-106004 Souterrain
  Description

  Situated in the NE quadrant of a cashel (CL009-106002-), this possible souterrain is indicated by a concentration of collapsed lintel slabs (L 2m; Wth 0.8m; T 0.4m), oriented N-S, that lead towards the stony mound that occupies the N sector of the interior. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 10 June 2022

• CL009-219 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  At the N end of a plateau with Poulacarran valley to the N and within a field system (CL009-074001-). A subrectangular cashel (c. 30m N-S; c. 28m E-W) defined by a stone wall visible at ITM 524173, 697071 on Ordnance Survey ortho photography (2013-2018). Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 24 May 2021

• CL009-256 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  Within a field system (CL009-074001-) stretching c. 800m S from close to Carran Church (CL009-075001-). A possible square cashel (c. 38m E-W; c. 38m N-S) visible on Digital Globe (2011-2013) defined by a stone wall, 3-4m broad at the SE corner, grass-covered elsewhere with a later field wall along the W side. The NW corner is enclosed internally. A similar-sized square enclosure is adjoining at the S (c. 37m N-S; c. 35m E-W) and a possible subrectangular enclosure is adjoining to the N (c. 42m N-S; c. 40m E-W). These may represent 'ladder' fields rather than a cashel proper. The S enclosure appears to have been built across an earlier field wall that extends across the enclosure diagonally from E to S. Another possible cashel (CL009-219----) lies c. 85m to the NW. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 6 Septembe 2021

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Carran.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

At the centre of the townland of Carran, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Carran.

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Carran with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Clare.

Name

Carran · An Carn

Area

1,064,831 m² (106.48 ha, 263.13 acres)

Civil parish

Carran, and its townlands

Barony

Burren

Electoral division

Castletown, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Ballyganner North, Ballyganner South, Cahermackirilla, Poulacarran, Sheshymore

Placenames

Carran on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address. Old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.