Poulnabrone

6 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Poulnabrone, from 5,394 m² (0.54 ha, 1.33 acres) to 215,193 m² (21.52 ha, 53.18 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 8 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 Poulnabrone 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 Poulnabrone 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

• CL005-153 Promontory fort - inland
  Description

  On a natural promontory in elevated largely scrub-covered pasture with clear views in all directions and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). The NW and S sides of the monument run along a sheer limestone cliff, falling to a ravine below. Indicated and named ‘Cahercashlaun’ on the 1839 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps. A suboval area (51m NE-SW; 27m NNW-SSE) defined by a drystone wall (ext. H 0.5-2.6m; int. H 1-2m; Wth 1-1.2m). The wall is best preserved at NNE and is lowest from SW to NNW. Westropp (1899, 377-8) noted a gateway in the E side of the monument. The interior is flat and contains a souterrain (CL005-153002-) NW of centre. Westropp’s plan of the site (ibid., 376) shows enclosures abutting its E wall, but they are now covered in vegetation. The monument is impacted by encroaching hazel scrub. The enclosure is depicted on the OS maps as extending to the E (c. 28m NE-SW; c. 30m NW-SE). On inspection in 1998 this area was completely concealed by vegetation. Westropp described this ‘lower’ E area as ‘surrounded by a coarsely built wall of much larger blocks than the upper fort, many being 6 feet [1.8m] long; in parts the wall is 5 and 6 feet high [1.5-1.8m] … The entrance was through a regular cleft, sloping upwards through the crag-ledge; it was about 4 feet [1.2m] wide, roofed by lintels, now fallen’.    Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 21 October 2025

• CL005-153002 Souterrain
  Description

  NW of centre in an inland promontory fort (CL005-153----). A souterrain comprising an unroofed partially rock-cut trench which opens near the centre of the fort and runs N (L 1.7m; Wth 0.7m). The trench then turns NE (L 3.5m; 0.85-1.1m; D 0.7-0.9m), and part of this section (L 2m) is roofed with three irregular lintels. Finally, it joins a chamber (c. 4m NE-SW; 3.4m NW-SE; D 1.6m) visible as a depression filled with rubble and hazel scrub. A narrow depression reminiscent of a collapsed passage (Wth 1m; L c. 10m) runs SE from the chamber potentially indicating a continuation of the feature.    Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 21 October 2025

• CL005-227001 Enclosure
  Description

  On a terrace in exposed karst with some grass cover with rising ground to the E and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). Partially indicated as a curving field boundary on the 1916 6-inch OS map. A circular enclosure (int. diam. 10.5m) defined by a low overgrown stone wall (Wth 1-2.5m) overlain by a drystone field wall on its E side. A slab wall abuts the enclosure at SW. A circular hut site (CL005-227002-) occupies the centre of the enclosure. A larger enclosure (CL005-227003-) is located c. 40m to the WSW.    Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 14 October 2025

• CL005-227002 Hut site
  Description

  In the centre of an enclosure (CL005-227001-) on a terrace in exposed karst with rising ground to the E and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). A subcircular hut site (int. diam. c. 3.5m) defined by heavily overgrown walls (Wth c. 1-1.5m). A larger enclosure (CL005-227003-) is located c. 60m to the WSW.    Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 14 October 2025

• CL005-227003 Enclosure
  Description

  On a terrace of exposed karst with some grass cover with rising ground to the E and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). An irregular figure-of-eight enclosure (c. 65m N-S; c. 30m E-W) that follows the contour of a low natural terrace defined by a stone wall (Wth 1-2m; max. H 1.2m) comprising an inner and outer facing of upright slabs, concealed in places by sod. Noted by Christine Grant. Visible on OSi MapGenie orthophotography (2013-2018). The facing survives intermittently around the enclosure. A slab wall aligned E-W extends across the S half of the enclosure, and a small section of mound wall abuts its N side. A second enclosure (CL005-227001-) with a hut site (CL005-227002-) is located c. 40m to the ENE.   Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 14 October 2025

• CL005-227004 Field system
  Description

  In the central Burren uplands. A field system visible on OSi Aerial Premium (2013-2018) orthophotographs stretching c. 3km N-S from just E of Corkscrew Hill S as far as Poulnbrone. Five wedge tombs, a portal tomb, several cairns, cashels, enclosures and hut sites are among the monuments within this area. 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: 25 August 2021

• CL005-236 Enclosure
  Description

  Within a field system (CL005-160001-). An subrectangular enclosure (c. 31m NE-SW; c. 25m NE-SW) defined by a stone wall visible at ITM 523935, 700972 on Ordnance Survey ortho photography (2013-2018). The following image has been uploaded: CL005-236----_01.jpg Ordnance Survey orthophoto 2013-18 Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 24 May 2021

• CL009-034001 Megalithic tomb - portal tomb
  Description

  Situated on bare limestone pavement within sight of the main N-S routeway through the high Burren region and c. 7.5km S of Ballyvaughan village. The portal tomb at Poulnabrone (Poll na Brón or ‘hollow of the millstone’), perhaps one of Ireland’s best-known megalithic tombs, is one of some 184 portal tombs whose distribution is concentrated in the N third of the country and in the SE counties of Leinster. Poulnabrone comprises a single rectilinear chamber (aligned NNE-SSW; L 2.8m; Wth 1.2m between the portals, c. 1.4m across the centre narrowing again to 1.1m at the backstone) with an entrance defined by two tall portal stones. The portal stones were set with their long axes parallel to the chamber. The E portal is a blocky pillar stone (H 1.75m; L 0.63m; T 0.25m) which was replaced following excavation as it had a number of horizontal and vertical cracks. The W portal stone (H 1.43m; L 1.2m; T 0.07-0.2m) narrows towards the base. A transverse slab or sillstone (L 0.87m; T 0.09-0.12m) is set on edge between the portals and the back of the chamber is formed by a backstone (L 2.1m; H 0.43m; T 0.2-0.35m). The W side is formed by a single sidestone (L 1.62m; max. H 0.38m; T 0.13m), leaning inwards at an angle of 70 degrees. The E side is defined by two sidestones. The N one (H 1.28m; L 1.3m; T 0.13-0.2m) leans inwards slightly and the S one (max. H 0.8m; L 1.1-1.2m; T 0.05-0.12m), also leaning slightly inwards, is set outside the N one and overlapping it by 0.2m. A large trapezoidal roofstone (L 3.7m; Wth 2.85m over the entrance narrowing to 1.55m at the rear) oversails the entrance and slopes downwards towards the backstone. It comprises a complete clint block prised from the surrounding pavement. Partially overlying the backstone and resting on the cairn is a large flat slab (L 1.8m N-S; Wth 1.75m; T c. 0.15-0.23m) which is likely to have served as a subsidiary roofstone. The tomb is surrounded by a low mound or cairn, roughly oval in shape (c. 10.5m N-S; max. 8.6m E-W; H 0.7-0.9m). The chamber and sections of the surrounding cairn were excavated in 1986-8 (licence no. E000351) as part of a major conservation project (Lynch 2014, 1). The excavation revealed that the orthostats of the chamber sit directly on the limestone pavement, with the single large roofstone helping to hold them in position. The surrounding low cairn of stones (of simple construction, comprising limestone slabs and smaller stones with no formal kerb) provided lateral support and a low sillstone marked the entrance to the chamber. It is unclear if the small, cist-like feature (referred to as a portico) constructed at the entrance to the chamber is an original feature or a later Bronze Age construction. At least 0.25m of calcareous soil covered the area at the time the tomb was built. The commingled unburnt remains of at least 35 individuals were recovered from the chamber, ranging in date from c. 3800 cal BC to c. 3200 cal BC. The earliest burials are likely to date to the time of the construction of the tomb which would place it at the very beginning of the Irish Neolithic. Successive interment of complete bodies appears to have been the burial rite practised, with subsequent displacement, removal and manipulation of the bones accounting for the disarticulation and jumbled state of the remains. Both male and female and all age groups are represented in the assemblage. A foetus of middle Bronze Age date was recovered from the portico. Analysis of the remains suggested a wholly terrestrial diet with limited consumption of animal protein and, with one exception, all individuals appear to have originated in the carboniferous limestone region of the Burren. A number of animal bones (including cattle, sheep, goat and pig) were intermingled with the human remains. A total of 42 artefacts and c. 126 pottery sherds were recovered, primarily from the chamber deposits. The stone artefacts include two stone beads, a polished stone axehead and a range of chert/flint tools. A triangular-shaped bone/antler pendant decorated with a central row of perforations is a fine example of Neolithic craftsmanship. The highly fragmented pottery is mostly Western Neolithic Tradition with a few sherds of probable Beaker ware among the assemblage. Sherds of Bronze Age pottery were found in association with the foetus buried in the portico. The tomb is a National Monument in State Care, no. 632. A description and plan of the monument were published by de Valera and Ó Nualláin in 1961 (see attached document) and the excavation report was published in 2014. (Lynch 2014) The following items are attached: CL009-034001-_01.pdf Document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961) CL009-034001-_01.jpg View of tomb remains at sunset from SE. CL009-034001-_02.jpg View of tomb and mound/cairn from ENE. CL009-034001-_03.jpg View of tomb from S with subsidiary roofstone resting on the mound or cairn. CL009-034001-_04.jpg View from NNW. CL009-034001-_05.jpg View from NNE. CL009-034001-_06.jpg View through tomb from SSW with the subsidiary roofstone in the foreground. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 13 April 2015 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 10/1985).

• CL009-034003 Field system
  Description

  A number of mound walls, one of which extends E-W and abuts the portal tomb at Poulnabrone (CL009-034001-) form a prehistoric field system visible on Digital Globe (2011-13) and on OSi Aerial Premium orthophotographs (2012-2018). This is in turn part of an extensive field system stretching N as far as Corkscrew Hill. 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: 25 August 2021

• CL009-208 Enclosure
  Description

  At the N edge of a shelf in pasture, overlooking a karst plateau on which stands Poulnabrone portal tomb (CL009-034001-) c. 124m to the NNW. Identified by Ann Lynch. This square enclosure (int. dims. c. 17m NW-SE; c. 17m NE-SW) is defined by a low earthen bank at the N and S, and less substantially by an intermittent line of prone boulders at the W, and a single flat stone at the E. The S bank (Wth 1.5-1.7m; av. H 0.1-0.2m) is highest at its E end (H 0.4-0.5m). There are some probable field stones partly overlying this bank. The N bank (Wth 1.2m; H. 0.2m-0.4m) is also more substantial at its E end (L 4m; H 0.4m) and several stones protrude from this bank. Two large stones (one L 1.7m; another L 1.3m; H 0.45m; T 0.2m) set into the S side of the bank's W end may be part of an inner facing. Archaeological testing c. 50m to the SW did not produce any archaeological material (Hull 2008). References Hull, G. 2008 Poulnabrone dolmen parking site, Poulnabrone, Clare. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2005: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 39. Bray. Wordwell. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 16 August 2022

Architectural heritage

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

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 Poulnabrone, 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 high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

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

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 Poulnabrone with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Clare.

Name

Poulnabrone · Poll na Brón

Area

669,571 m² (66.96 ha, 165.45 acres)

Civil parish

Kilcorney, and its townlands

Barony

Burren

Electoral division

Noughaval, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Caherconnell, Faherlaghroe, Glensleade, Poulanine, Poulgorm

Placenames

Poulnabrone 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.