Cush

87 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Cush, from 177 m² to 513,693 m² (51.37 ha, 126.94 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 36 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 Cush 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.

• 20 Jul 2026Refused

  a new detached single storey dwelling house, splayed and recessed entrance and driveway, a secondary treatment system and soil polishing filter, 2 no. stables for horses and all ancillary site works on and under land, including a new water connection

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 2660824

• 12 Jun 2025Conditional

  construction of an extension to an existing dwelling house, a new garage, relocate an existing entrance, upgrade an existing wastewater treatment system, percolation area and all associated site works

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 25186

• 10 Jan 2025Conditional

  an existing garage and associated ancillary site works as constructed

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 2560010

• 23 Oct 2024Conditional

  the construction of a vehicular entrance, dwelling house, garage, domestic waste water treatment system with polishing filter together with all associated site works

  Permission, 2 homes · Limerick County Council, 2461051

• 26 Jul 2024N/a

  the construction of an extension to include a garage / car port to an existing dwelling house, relocate an existing entrance, upgrade an existing wastewater treatment system, percolation area and all associated site works

  Permission, 2 homes · Limerick County Council, 24308

• 11 May 2023Conditional

  the construction of a dwelling house, domestic garage, installation of a waste water treatment plant and polishing filter and to upgrade and use the existing agricultural entrance to the site and all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 2360297

• 18 Jan 2023Conditional

  the construction of a vehicular entrance, dwelling house, garage, domestic waste water treatment system with polishing filter together with all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 2360015

• 11 Jan 2023Conditional

  for the construction of a vehicular entrance, dwelling house, garage, domestic waste water treatment system with polishing filter together with all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 2360006

• 11 Jan 2023Conditional

  for the construction of a vehicular entrance, dwelling house, garage, domestic waste water treatment system with polishing filter together with all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 2360007

• 27 Oct 2020Conditional

  the construction of a single storey extension to the rear of my existing dwelling to provide for an accessible assisted living annex to the existing dwelling. This annex will consist of a bedroom, shower room ensuite and entrance area with storage and adjacent carport. This development also includes for upgrade works to the existing wastewater treatment system and all associated site works

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 201093

• 13 Feb 2020Conditional

  the following alterations (a) the conversion of attic for use as storage, home gym and shower room, (b) retention of elevational changes to dwelling and garage and all associated site works

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 20108

• 20 Jan 2020Conditional

  the construction of an extension to a domestic dwelling, front boundary wall and all ancillary site works

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 2028

• 7 Jun 2018Conditional

  the construction of a domestic garage

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 18566

• 14 Feb 2018Conditional

  constructed first floor attic storage area and roof lights including all associated site works

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 18120

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

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Cush.

Recorded monuments

• LI048-033001 Barrow - ditch barrow
  Description

  In poorly drained pasture, 155m E of the townland boundary with Kilmurry. Not marked on historic OSi maps. One of two barrows (LI048-033002-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1936, 180-181) in the townland of Cush located on Mr. W. O’Donnell’s farm and described as following; ‘The overall diameter was about 40 feet [12m] and is shown in the photography by the man and boy are standing at the extremities of a diameter of the circle. The arrows show its extent in the other direction. This barrow on excavation proved to have a surrounding ditch about 2 feet [0.6m] in depth. No “finds” were made beyond the fact that the original ground-surface was seen to be flecked with charcoal. A second similar barrow (LI048-033002-) was excavated in the same field, and others could be seen at certain states of the vegetation.’ No surface remains visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13. Outline of ditch barrow visible on Google Earth orthoimage dated 20/03/2018. See attached photo from Ó Ríordáin, location marked ‘X’ on RMP map for Co. Limerick and Google Earth orthoimage. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 12 August 2021

• LI048-033002 Barrow - ditch barrow
  Description

  In poorly drained pasture. Not marked on historic OSi maps. One of two barrows (LI048-033001-/002-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1936, 180-181) in the townland of Cush located on Mr. W. O’Donnell’s farm and described as following; ‘A second similar barrow was excavated in the same field, and others could be seen at certain states of the vegetation.’ No surface remains visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13. Faint outline of possible ditch barrow visible on Google Earth orthoimage dated 20/03/2018. See attached RMP map with location marked ‘X’ and Google Earth orthoimage Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 12 August 2021

• LI048-034001 Field system
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture, located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111) and associated with an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-). Excavations carried out by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 140-145) between 1934-5 revealed sections of the field system and were described as following; ‘Our attention was in the first instance directed to the traces of ancient fields connected with the Cush site by reason of the fact that on the eastern side of the Southern Group of ring-forts (LI048-034016-; 025/028-) there ran two field fences which were in approximately the same straight line as the defences of the Enclosure on the western side of the group. The southern of these two field fences joins Ring 5 [LI048-034016-] and is shown on the Ordnance Map in the same way as are the modern field fences; the northern one joins Ring 3 [LI048-034027-] and is not shown on the map, not being so well defined as the other, though comparatively easy to follow on the ground, nevertheless. Both of these fences join the long fence which runs northwards along the contour of the hill-side and which is marked as a modern field-fence on the map. When we noticed that these banks had the same general directions as the defences of the Enclosure, we were first inclined to think that we had found its counterpart in a similar, though more simply defended, enclosure on the eastern side of the ring-forts [LI048-034016-; 025/028-]. Further study of the site, however showed this to be the wrong view-point and showed that these field banks were really part of a series of such to be found in the main running parallel to these along the hillside to the north. That these field fences formed part of a great system older than the present-day system was proved by their relation to the latter. The modern field boundaries ignore the ancient earthworks. The older banks, on contrary, ignore the modern ones but respect the ring-forts. Thus we find an old field-bank crossing (or, rather, running under) the modern one on the eastern side of the field containing the Northern Group [LI048-034007/008-; 036/037]-) but stopping at the edge of Ring 8 [LI048-034037-]. Again, another ancient fence runs immediately alongside a modern one east of Ring 2 [LI048-034026-], while the modern one continues across it. We have thus got proof that this ancient field system pre-dates the present-day one but we have not yet got proof of how much older it is. Cross-section on the old fences showed them to consist of a very low bank and a silted-up trench. The bank was found to be usually about 1½ feet [0.45m] in height above the original turf level on which it had been built. The trench beside it had on the average a depth of about three feet [0.91m]. The junction of the field-fences with the fosses of the ring-forts were investigated at various points and led to more definite results. In each case the field-fence either cut into one side of the fosse (junction of fence at east side of tumuli with Ring 7 [LI048-034008-] or stopped immediately short of the fosse ( Ring 3 [LI048-034027-] and Ring 5 [ LI048-034016-]).’ Excavations of the field system in the Western field were described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 121-124) as follows; ‘Trial cuttings to the north and south of House f [LI048-034022-] revealed completely silted-up trenches running east and west down the slope of the field. These are shown on the plan of the field. They are evidently the trenches of an early field system and the fact that two trenches appear to run parallel and close to each other at the north-western corner of the field suggests change of the field boundaries. As there was no suggestion of these trenches on the surface of the field nor of the banks which, we presume, accompanied them, it would have been too difficult a task to trace all the courses of the trenches. It was, however, evident that the field system they represented was earlier that the defences of the Enclosure, since we found, at the point of juncture of the northern trench with the corner of the fosse of the rectangle, that the red sandstone cut from the bottom of the fosse had been thrown into the trench. These trenches are again referred to in dealing with the general question of the early fields on the site later in this paper.’ Archaeological test-excavations in the W quadrant of the field system, immediately N of two urn burials (LI048-034013-/014-) were undertaken by Avril Hayes in 2002 (Licence No. 02E1619) and results summarised as following; ‘Test-trenching before a single-house development did not reveal anything of archaeological significance. The development was within the zone of potential of an archaeological complex. Four trenches were excavated across the development area, revealing a stratigraphy of dark red/brown topsoil, 0.3–0.6m deep, overlying the natural, dark grey/brown clay.’ Field system visible today as linear banks and cropmarks running perpendicular to each other on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 7 September 2021

• LI048-034002 Earthwork
  Description

  In pasture, 50m NE of Glennacroghery Stream, in NE quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034001/035-), enclosure (LI048-034003-) lies 50m to the SW. Not marked on the 1840 or 1897 ed. OSi historic maps. Poorly preserved earthwork is partially depicted on the Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map as a semi-circular shaped area (dims. c. 21m N-S; 37m E-W) defined by a scarp from E-S-W and fosse from S-W, intersected at SE by a road running NE-SW. Described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 86) as one of three forts in the townland of Cush, consisting of ‘the raised-centre, flat top kind’. Outline of semi-circular shaped earthwork visible on oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP BGK051) taken 17/07/1971. Curving arc of fosse at S with faint trace of fosse at N visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13. Also visible are two linear cropmarks running NW-SE, intersecting the monument at W and N. The linear cropmark at N is a relic post-1700 relic field boundary depicted on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map. Faint trace of circular cropmark visible on Google Earth orthoimage dated 19/03/2015. See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin, Google Earth orthoimages and oblique aerial photograph. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 13 August 2021

• LI048-034003 Earthwork
  Description

  In pasture, 12m NE of Glounnacroghery Stream, in NE quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034001/035-), enclosure (LI048-034002-) lies 50m to the NW. Not marked on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map. Depicted on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a raised sub-rectangular shaped platform (dims. c. 23m NW-SE; 18m NE-SW) defined by a scarp. Earthwork described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 86) as one of three forts in the townland of Cush, consisting of ‘the raised-centre, flat top kind’. Westropp (1918, 119) recorded this as one of ‘the rings to either side of the gully of Glounnacroghera.’ Outline of circular-shaped earthwork defined by a scarp with an external bank visible on oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP BGK051) taken 17/07/1971. Monument visible as a sub-rectangular shaped area defined by a scarp with fosse, intersected at N by a linear cropmark running NW-SE on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. The linear cropmark at N is a relic post-1700 relic field boundary depicted on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map. A rectangular-shaped cropmark (dims. c. 8m NW-SE; 18m NE-SW) is visible to the E of the earthwork on OSi orthophotograph taken between 2005-2012. See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin, Google Earth orthoimages and CUCAP oblique aerial photograph. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 8 September 2021

• LI048-034004 Earthwork
  Description

  In pasture, 55m NE of Glounnacroghery Stream, N of an archaeological complex (LI048-034001/035-), enclosure (LI048-034003-) lies 90m to the W. Not marked on OSi historic maps. Described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 86) as Site A; ‘which, though almost level, can, by careful examination, be discerned on the ground surface.’ Faint outline of circular-shaped earthwork visible on oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP BGK051) taken 17/07/1971. Monument visible as a D-shaped cropmark, intersected at E by a post-1700 field boundary running NE-SW on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. A linear cropmark running NW-SE depicted on the Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map, is visible to the S of the monument. See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin, Google Earth orthoimages and oblique aerial photograph. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 24 August 2021

• LI048-034005 Earthwork
  Description

  In pasture, immediately SW of Glounnacroghery Stream, in the N quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034001/035-). Not marked on 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map. Depicted on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a raised oval-shaped area (dims. c. 24m NW-SE; 28m NE-SW) defined by a scarp overlooking ravine to NE. Shown on the Caisini ed. OSi 6-inch map as a raised oval-shaped platform defined by a scarp with external fosse from E-SSE. Described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 86) as one of three forts in the townland of Cush, consisting of ‘the raised-centre, flat top kind’. Westropp (1918, 119) recorded this monument as one of ‘the rings to either side of the gully of Glounnacroghera.’ Outline of circular-shaped earthwork visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. Also visible is the scrub-filled fosse to the SE of the monument as depicted on the Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map. See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 24 August 2021

• LI048-034006 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  National monument No. 663. The most northerly site in a group of 23 monuments (LI048-034007-/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temair Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). The ringfort stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-) on the W facing slope of Slievereagh, an outlying peak of the Ballyhoura Mountains, and is known locally as the 'mote of Parkeenard'. It lies on poorly drained land 70m S of a small stream running through a ravine known as Glounacroghera or 'Hangman's Glen'. This group of mouments are located on steep W facing slope of rising ground with commanding views over east Limerick. The ringfort was described by Westropp as following; 'The next earthwork (I) farther to the north is called "the mote of Parkeenard"; the outer ring is 9 feet [2.75m] thick, the fosse 10 feet [3m] wide, the garth 42 feet [12.8m] across; the ring to the north-east is fairly perfect' (Westropp 1916-17, 466). Listed as Ringfort No. 11 by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 85) who excavated the monuments on this hillside between 1934-5. This site was not excavated and was described by Ó Ríordáin as 'the largest and best preserved of all the Cush earthworks. It had two ramparts with the suggestion of a third (inner)' (1940, 133). In 1998 the field containing the monument was purchased by the state along with an access route from the public road to the NW where a public parking area was constructed under licence no. 98E0392. Outline of circular-shaped ringfort clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph and on aerial photographs taken in 1971 (CUCAP BGK051). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 May 2018 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 34/1934).

• LI048-034007 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In N corner of field in rough pasture, in N quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Poorly preserved ringfort stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), with earthwork (LI048-034036-) immediately to SE and ringfort (LI048-034006-, Nat. Mon. No. 663) 20m to the E. Listed as Ringfort No. 10 in the ‘Northern Group’ of forts excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5, who described it as follows; ‘in the north-west corner of the northern field and portion of its defences were cut off by the modern field-fence on the west. The main defences of Ring-Fort 10 were the inner and middle banks and fosses. The inner bank had completely disappeared but the inner fosse could be found by excavation and on its inner side were found in one section (on the south-east) the remains of an external stone facing of the inner bank. The outer fosse was very slight and was, we have suggested, a later addition contemporary with the construction of the arc of Ring 9 [LI048-034036-]. Excavations of the ringfort (diam. c. 20m) revealed a souterrain (LI048-034034-) and house sites. The house sites were described by Ó Ríordáin (ibid. 131) as; ‘revealed, at a depth of 8 inches [0.2m] under the surface, a series of wall-grooves (charcoal- and humus-filled) which, to some extent, gave outlines of rectangular houses. Another groove, in outline a long arc of a circle, was situated on the eastern side of the end of a souterrain, for which it may have contained a protecting structure. The postholes A-G may represent some structure of similar purpose. There was indication that at least one of the houses represented by these bands of humified soil was in occupation after the souterrain had been deserted and had silted up, as one of the dark bands crossed the silted-over end of the souterrain.’ Outline of partially levelled ringfort (diam. c. 27m) transected at W by post-1700 field boundaries is visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 26 August 2021

• LI048-034008 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture, in centre of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Bivallate ringfort stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034037-) lies 30m to N and three burial mounds (LI048-034010/012-) lie to the SW. Listed as Ringfort No. 7 in the ‘Northern Group’ of forts excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Monument described by Ó Ríordáin (ibid.) as follows; ‘This fort with an overall diameter of about 140 feet [42.6m] was originally double ramparted, but the inner bank had been used on the southern side as portion of the field fence and on the northern side had disappeared, though the slope of the fosse showed. The entrance was on the western side of the fort. The inner fosse of this fort was much better marked than the outer one and excavation showed that the latter was better on the southern than on the northern side, there being, indeed, only the suggestion of a fosse on the north.’ Excavations of the ringfort interior were described as following; ‘On the northern side of the fort was a line of stones, rather indefinitely suggesting the remains of a wall and on the western side of the fort we found that the inner bank had a low wall as facing on its inner side. This wall was less than 2 feet [0.6m] in height. Beside it we found a considerable amount of iron slag.’ Bivallate ringfort clearly visible as a circular shaped area (diam. c. 24m) enclosed by two banks with intervening fosse intersected at S by post-1700 field boundary running E-W on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans and photograph of wall from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 26 August 2021

• LI048-034009 Quarry
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture, immediately W of bowl-barrow (LI048-034010-), ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 27m to NE and two bowl-barrows (LI048-034011/012-) 20m to S. Excavation of the bowl-barrows (LI048-034010/12-) by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 133-140) between 1934-5, recorded the following; ‘West of T [umulus] I [LI048-034010-] is marked on the Ordnance Map a hollow which we investigated with a negative result. It may have been dug to provide material for the building of some of the tumuli where that available from the fosse was not sufficient for the purpose’ (Ó Ríordáin 1940, 133). Slight shallow depression to W of bowl-barrow (LI048-034010-) visible on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 30 August 2021

• LI048-034010 Barrow - bowl-barrow
  Description

  In rough pasture, in centre of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). One of three burial mounds (LI048-034010/012-), within a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 20m to NE. The most northerly of three bowl-barrows (LI048-034010/012-), within a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 20m to NE. Described by Westropp (1916-17, 465) as one of three tumuli consisting of; ‘a levelled mound (c), only a few feet high, 12 feet [3.6m] across, with a rock of conglomerate about 4 feet [1.2m] long on its base.’ Listed as Tumulus I by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 133-137) the burial mound was partially excavated in 1924 by T. Shea and the remains of an urn with cremated bone (LI048-034038-) uncovered and reinterred. Excavations of the mound (H. 0.9m; diam. 11m) undertaken by Ó Ríordáin between 1934-5, revealed a cist (LI048-034039-) and the barrow was described as following; ‘This mound was low and insignificant in comparison with T [umulus] II [LI048-034012-] and T [umulus] III [LI048-034011-]. Its maximum height over ground-level was less than 3 feet [0.9m], and its greatest diameter about 36 feet [11m]. No signs of a surrounding fosse showed on the surface but there were some upright stones at the edge of the tumulus, others of which were revealed on excavation making a total of six found in position, which represented the remains of the kerb of the tumulus’ (ibid. 133). Excavations revealed, ‘that the greater portion of it was covered by a paving of small stones packed rather closely together. This paving was at varying depths of 18 inches [0.45m] or less under the surface. On and among the stones of this paving we found scattered fragments of small deposits of cremated bones’ (ibid. 135). A possible fosse was also recorded inside the edge of the mound and ‘it did not make a complete circle, there being a gap of about one-fifth of its circumference on the northern side’ (ibid. 136). See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 27 August 2021

• LI048-034011 Barrow - bowl-barrow
  Description

  In rough pasture, in centre of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). One of three possible bowl-barrows (LI048-034010/012-), within a large field system (LI048-034001-). Ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 50m to NE and a cist (LI048-034015-) lies 10m to SW. Listed as 'Tumulus III' and was one of three bowl-barrows excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 133-137) between 1934-5. Earthwork described as a ‘bowl-barrow’ by Ó Ríordáin which he recorded as follows; ‘There was no essential difference in structure between this mound and T[umulus] II [LI048-034012-] beyond the fact that it was slightly larger, its overall diameter being 54 feet [16.45m]. This mound had also been dug into in 1924 and when we cleared off the heavy growth of furze which covered this, though not the other tumuli, we found it possible to distinguish the mark of the earlier digging. This operation consisted of the cutting of a trench about 8 feet [2.4m] wide through the centre of the mound, though, as our sections revealed, the trench did not go down to the old ground surface under the tumulus and the digging had not been rewarded by any "finds." The soil had been replaced by the earlier investigators but certain irregularities in the surface of the mound marked the extent of their cutting, and the material thrown up formed a slight shoulder round the tumulus on about three-quarters of its circumference. The sections showed the height of the tumulus above original ground level to be six feet [1.8m]. They showed plainly the cutting made in 1924, but showed also a second small disturbance which, also, did not reach original ground level. This second cutting may have been due to an earlier disturbance or may have been caused by further digging in 1924 of which we were not informed. On the original ground level we found, over an irregular area of about 18 feet [5.5m] by 16 feet [4.87m], cremated bones and a thin layer of charcoal, evidently the site of the cremation pyre, and the remains of the burial. We have, therefore, in T[umulus] III a second example of the type of burial exemplified also in T [umulus] II, in which a tumulus was raised over the cremated remains on the site where the cremation had taken place' (ibid. 139). Monument visible as a raised circular platform or mound with traces of an external fosse on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth othoimages. See attached plans from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 27 August 2021

• LI048-034012 Barrow - bowl-barrow
  Description

  In rough pasture, in centre of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). One of three bowl-barrows (LI048-034010/012-), within a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 30m to NE and a cist (LI048-034015-) lies 38m to SW. Listed as Tumulus II with cremated burial (LI048-034040-), excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 137-8) between 1934-5. Monument described as one of three ‘bowl-barrows’ by Ó Ríordáin consisting of mound measuring ‘about 6 feet [1.8m], and each having a fosse which, though largely silted up, was still evident on the ground before excavation. The overall average diameter of the mound was 45 feet [13.7m]’ (ibid. 137). Excavations revealed that 'on the old ground surface an area irregularly circular in outline and about 12 feet [4m] in diameter was found to be covered with a light charcoal deposit in which were scattered fragments of cremated bone [LI048-034040-). It was evident that this area was the site of a fire, on which, no doubt, the cremation had been carried out and over which the tumulus had been built'. Earthwork visible as a circular shaped mound defined by a shallow fosse on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 30 August 2021

• LI048-034013 Urn burial
  Description

  At the rear of a modern dwelling, located inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), W of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Urn Burial 'A 'discovered by a farmer digging potatoes in 1967 and excavated by Rynne and O’Sullivan (1966-67, 103-107) on behalf of the National Museum of Ireland. A second urn burial (LI048-034014-) was revealed 1.45m to the NE. Excavations uncovered the remains of an urn burial described by Rynne and O’Sullivan (1966-67, 103-105) as follows; ‘The first burial discovered consisted of a pit dug into the boulder clay and containing a Cinerary Urn inverted over cremated human bones. Mixed with the bones were some charcoal fragments, all of hazel (Corylus), and nearer the bottom of the pit was a badly corroded fragment of bronze blade, while lying against the outside of the urn, at a height of about 9.5cm above the rim, was a flint artifact. Due to disturbance before the nature of the discovery was realised, the basal portion of the urn had been sheared off. The outline of the pit could be traced for almost half of its circumference and to a remaining depth of about 10cm. The bottom of the pit coincided with the mouth of the urn and highest remaining part of the pit was 5cm out from the wall of the vessel.’ See attached drawing from Rynne and O’Sullivan. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 7 September 2021

• LI048-034014 Urn burial
  Description

  At the rear of a modern dwelling, located inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), in W quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Urn burial (Burial B) discovered by a farmer digging potatoes in 1967 and excavated by Rynne and O’Sullivan (1966-67, 103-107) on behalf of the National Museum of Ireland. A second urn burial (LI048-034013-) was revealed during the excavations 1.45m to the SW. Excavations uncovered the remains of an urn burial described by Rynne and O’Sullivan (1966-67, 106) as follows; ‘During the investigation of the above-described urn-burial [LI048-034013-], some fragments of cremated human bones were discovered in the vicinity of the large boulder, 1.75m to the E.N.E. This boulder measured 100cm by 70cm by 45cm in maximum length, breadth and thickness respectively, and on excavation proved to be a natural feature and not the capstone of a cist-grave as had been suspected. During the exploratory excavation of the boulder, a second urn-burial was discovered, 1.45m distant from the first burial [LI048-034013-], and 17cm from the boulder. This vessel was also a Cinerary Urn but was not inverted; it rested at a slight tilt on its flat bottom. The rim portion of the vessel had been damaged during the potato-digging earlier in the year or perhaps during previous years, but several sherds belonging to it were recovered from its vicinity. It contained cremated human bones, many fragments of which were also found in its vicinity, likewise disturbed by the earlier potato-digging, the bones discovered near the boulder during the investigation of the first urn-burial probably also belong to this burial. A small fragment of very thin and corroded bronze, probably portion of a blade which had accompanied this burial, was found among some cremated bones 20cm from the vessel. No clear trace of any pit was noticed, but the area surround the burial, extending about 100cm from the boulder and about 60cm across, contained many small rounded stones, varying between about 5cm and 10cm in thickness, which may perhaps be interpreted as packing-stones filling a pit.’ See attached drawings from Rynne and O’Sullivan. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 7 September 2021

• LI048-034015 Cist
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture, in centre of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Located within a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 75m to NE and three bowl-barrows (LI048-034010-/012-) lie 10m to NE. Cist excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 124-125) between 1934-5, the result of which were described as following ; ‘In connection with our study of the ancient field division we decided to excavate for comparative purposed a section of a modern field fence. To do this we began the cutting of a section through the earth and stone fence dividing the Western Field from that containing the Tumuli (LI048-034010-/012-). When the workmen had removed the sods at the margin of the channel running by the side of the fence, they came upon a small cist grave. This being reported we suspended the work of cutting a section through the fence and excavated the cist. There was no covering stone in position nor any stones to form one end of the grave. One side was formed by a stone about 3¾ feet [1.14m]. The other side was formed by two slabs, one having a length of 2¼ feet [0.68m] and a thickness of about 4 inches [0.1m], the other being the same thickness but only about 1 foot in length. This latter was not, because of pressure from the side, quite in the same straight line with the long slab. Of the end which in part remained we found two stones in position, one an irregularly shaped very soft piece of clay stone, while the other was a small and irregular sand stone fitting between the former and the large block which formed one of the sides of the cist. The floor of the cist was formed in the nature of a “crazy pavement” of slabs. On this paving rested the burial; it was a cremated one, partly contained in two food vessels but partly lying upon the floor of the cist. One of the vessels was rather badly broken, the other only slightly cracked. Both have in the meantime been restored by Miss Barnes of the National Museum. It will be seen from the plan that the side of the cist are not parallel. Its length was about 3 feet [0.9m] which the mean breadth was slightly over 2 feet [0.6m]. No sign of a previously existing tumulus or other surface indications could be noticed at the site of the discovery of the cist grave.’ Examination of the cremated bone recorded that ‘the identifiable fragments belong to one young adult and one child, about 2 or 3 years of age’ (ibid. 172). No surface remains visible of excavated cist. See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 31 August 2021

• LI048-034016 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Bivallate ringfort listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Ringfort 5, Southern Group' which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), the S earthwork of three conjoined ringforts (LI048-034028/027/041-). A souterrain (LI048-034035-) was recorded in the NE quadrant of the ringfort, four urn/cist burials (LI048-034017-/018-/019-/020-) and cremated remains (LI048-034021) were also recorded in the interior of the ringfort. Excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 104-109) between 1934-5, the results of which were described as follows; ‘This ring-fort is the most southerly of the group on excavation proved to be the most interesting. It is enclosed by two banks and two fosses. The fosses, it will be noticed, do not complete the circle on the northern side. At first we were inclined to believe that the explanation of this was that Ring-Fort 5 [LI048-034016-] was earlier than No. 4 [LI048-034028-] and that its defences were cut through by the building of the latter. Excavation showed this to be wrong. On investigation the northern ends of the inner fosse of the fort we found that it did not join, and never had joined, that of Ring-Fort 4 [LI048-034028-]. The construction of these ends of the fosses showed then (in three cases) to end so as to leave a ridge of undisturbed boulder clay between them and the fosse of No. 4 [LI048-034028-]. It will be thus seen that although the inner bank of Ring-Fort 5 [LI048-034016-] is complete on the northern side, the fosses are incomplete because of the existence of No. 4 [LI048-034028-] when they were built. No other explanation as regards the relative ages of the two forts seems at all tenable because we cannot conceive the building of a fort and the leaving of a considerable gap in the fosses defending it. This point has been stressed because the burials found in Ring No. 5 [LI048-034016-] provided dating material for it and it is important to note that the construction of No. 4 [LI048-034028-] is somewhat earlier in date. Excavation showed, as stated, that in three instances (inner and outer fosses on the western side and inner fosse on the eastern side) the fosses of No. 5 [LI048-034016-] failed to connect with the fosse of No. 4 [LI048-034028-] but the end of the outer fosse on the eastern side did cut into the side of the fosse of No. 4 [LI048-034028-], though it was not cut so deeply as the latter fosse. The entrance [at W] to Ring-Fort 5 [LI048-034016-] was flanked on either side by a large post-hole in such a position that the posts which they supported must have been set into the bank. In order to find out the relationship of the defences of the rectangular enclosure to the fort we excavated the area outside the entrance. This led to some interesting results. The inner bank of the fort was found to have been built upon a kerb of large stones placed at the foot of the bank and so upon the edge of the fosse. Though our section through the ramparts did not, in other places, reveal this kerb, it would appear that such had originally encircled the fort because similar boulders were frequently met with in the filling of the inner fosse. An interesting difference between the fosses at either side of the approach to the entrance was revealed by the excavation. The outer fosse on the southern side was the type which was normal around the ring-forts. Somewhat shallower than on the eastern side of the fort but of the same breadth. On the other side of the approach, however, the outer fosse was no more than a narrow drain about 2 feet [0.6m] in width. This narrow portion of the outer fosse is a peculiar feature and seems to suggest that soon after its being dug fort No. 6 [LI048-034041-] was constructed and so defence on this side was no longer necessary. The narrow trench would, however, served the useful purpose of continuing to drain off into the fosse of the Enclosure [LI048-034042-] the water which ran off the outer side of the outer bank. Each of the fosses, except the outer narrow fosse on the northern side already referred to, terminated in a setting of stones which was high enough to be termed a wall in one case only, at the end of the inner fosse on the northern side of the entrance. This wall not only acted as a termination for the fosse but was continued westwards in a straight line to a total length of about 10 feet [3.04m]. This extension of the wall was due to the fact, an important one in the relative dating of the earthworks, that the fosse of the Enclosure was turned in to join the inner fosse of the ring-fort and the wall was built at the side of the Enclosure fosse. That the western part of the wall was a later extension to that which terminated the ring-fort fosse was shown by the upper portion of the wall being backed against loose humified clay and not against a setting of boulder clay, as one would expect if the wall had been an original feature. The end of the fosse of the fort at this point was also filled with a deep deposit of stratified refuse-burned clay, fragments of calcined bone and decayed organic matter. As we shall see, Ring-Fort 5 [LI048-034016-], when no longer used for habitation, was used as a place of burial and it would appear that at the time of the building of the Enclosure [LI048-034042-] this must already have taken place, since the method of connecting up the fosse of the Enclosure with the fosse of the ring-fort had the effect of causing No. 5 [LI048-034016-] to open outside the Enclosure, thus shutting it out from the group on general. As had been already stated Ring-Fort 5 was protected by two banks and two fosses. The outer fosse was much shallower than the inner and was filled with a very dark silting. In the fort were found evidences of several successive stages in its occupation and, later, of its use as a cemetery. The earliest structure seems to have been a dry stone wall so built as to be backed against the cut away rock at the centre of the fort. This was only a fragment of the original structure which must have been a house of circular outline, but of which only this portion of the wall remained, the remainder having been removed and the whole area having become filled up to the level of the top of the wall mentioned, which was of a height varying from 2½ feet [0.76m] to 3½ feet [1.06m]. Evidence of later occupation of the fort are afforded by the charcoal-marked dark bands which evidently represent the position of the walls of wooden houses. These lay in general upon a sand and clay filling which covered the central area of the ring-fort; they have been shown on the plan and apparently represent two houses, the one being roughly circular (about half the circle remaining) the other rectangular, one side and part of two others being shown, the third, more doubtful, is nearer to the edge of the excavated area and would also seem to be the remains of a circular house. Portions of paving occur in various places throughout the ring-fort; that near the centre of the fort may be part of a pacing contemporaneous with one of the wooden houses, that further to the south-west is lower than it by over 1 foot [0.3m] and can hardly have been in use at the same period, although it is approximately the same height as the two stones to the north-west of the ring-fort which are all that remain of paving in that area. They may have been part, with those on the south-west, of the paving covering the fort interior at some period. Immediately underlying the turf was a considerable quantity of charcoal under which in turn lay the sand and clay filling already referred to. This was reddened in such a manner as to show the effects of heat and it was evident that over a considerable portion of the ring-fort fires must have been ligh

• LI048-034017 Urn burial
  Description

  One of 4 urn/cist burials (LI048-034017/020-) in W half of bivallate ringfort (LI048-034016-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Urn burial described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 112) as; ‘Burial No. I – Set in an irregular pocket of the reddish filling already referred to and surrounded by a deposit of charcoal we found, mouth upwards and otherwise unprotected, an urn completely filled with cremated bones some of which were found to have over-flowed the urn and lay in the bottom of the hollow in which the urn stood.’ See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 5 September 2021

• LI048-034018 Cist
  Description

  One of 4 urn/cist burials (LI048-034017/020-) in W half of bivallate ringfort (LI048-034016-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 112) as; ‘Burial No. II This burial was found about 7 feet [2.13m] south-west of the first. It was contained in a well-built cist grave covered by a large cap-stone (greatest dimension 39 inches [0.99m], thickness of about 5 inches [0.12m]). The red sandstone had been cut away to contain the cist and in the bottom of the sandstone cutting a base, consisting of one slab (about 18 inches [0.45m] across) and five other stones, was laid down in order to secure a level foundation for the side-slabs. Three sides of the cist were composed of single slabs, the fourth was more irregularly built of one large stone and two smaller ones. The urn was found mouth downwards covering the burial and, since the cremated remains were all contained within the inverted urn, it was evident that the latter must, when placed in the grave, have had a cloth or other covering tied over its mouth since otherwise it would not have been possible to place it in position without losing its contents.’ See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 5 September 2021

• LI048-034019 Cist
  Description

  One of 4 urn/cist burials (LI048-034017/020-) in W half of bivallate ringfort (LI048-034016-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Urn burial described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 110-111) as; 'Burial No. III was also contained in a cist grave of excellent construction. It lay immediately north of the larger of the two stones inside, and to the left of, the entrance to the fort [LI048-034016-]. The internal measurements of the grave were 2 feet 2 inches [0.65m] by 15 inches [0.38m] and the height 14 inches [0.35m]. The base of the cist was formed by a slab, remarkably regular in shape and well fitted between the side slabs, being wedged in position with small pebbles. The cap-stone was a large and weighty slab, its dimensions being about 41 inches [1.04m] by 35 inches [0.88m] with a maximum thickness of about 14 inches [0.35m]. The cist contained a large quantity of cremated remains, the cremation having been very incompletely performed. There was no urn nor grave goods of any kind.’ See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 5 September 2021

• LI048-034020 Urn burial
  Description

  One of 4 urn/cist burials (LI048-034017-020-) in W half of bivallate ringfort (LI048-034016-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Urn burial described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 111-112) as; ‘Burial IV – In describing Burial No. III [LI048-034019-] mention was made of a large stone to the south of it, one of two placed N.E. of the entrance. This was an irregular boulder, about 5 feet [1.5m] in greatest dimension, supported on smaller stones. Under its south-western side and somewhat protected by the boulder we found the remains of an urn with cremated burial. Only the rim of the vessel remained; it had been placed mouth downwards and the remainder of the urn had at some period been removed. This burial and the one next to be described suggest an extreme degeneration of the dolmen form of grave.’ See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 5 September 2021

• LI048-034021 Cremated remains
  Description

  Cremation burial in W quadrant of bivallate ringfort (LI048-034016-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 112) as; 'Burial No. V is the least elaborate of those to be described. Under the second of the two large stones, which showed near the entrance to the fort, we found a cremated burial partly protected by the cap-stone, some of the remains lying outside the area it covered. The cap-stone was supported (as will be seen on the plan) on an irregular group of stones. The amount of cremated remains found was small but some of the deposit could easily have been removed at some period as were the greater portion of the urn in Burial 4 (LI048-034020-) and presumably part of the cremated bones contained in it’. See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 8 September 2021

• LI048-034022 House - early medieval
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture, in W quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). House Site 'f' located in N quadrant of western field, excavated cist (LI048-034015-) 15m to N, 3 bowl-barrows (LI048-034010-/012-) lie 40m to NE, group of ringforts (LI048-034025-/027-) in field to E. Early medieval circular-shaped 'house site f' excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 121-124) between 1934-5 and described as following; ‘House f was similar to House a (located in ringfort LI048-034025-) in having a compacted clay and gravel floor but of a quality inferior to that in House a. The general construction of the two houses was similar, since each was evidently constructed in the main of a perishable material, the lower parts of the walls being of stone. There is a striking similarity in plan between House a and House f, the lower portion of the floor of the former house corresponding to the sunken area (referred to below) in the latter. House f was, however, approximately circular in plan while House a was more nearly rectangular. The diameter of the main part of House f was about 13 feet [3.96m]. Many of the stones around House f were thick slabs which either still stood upright (like the stones found around House a) or had fallen in such a way as to suggest that they had once been set on edge. On the southern side of the floor was a narrow sunken space or passage, between tow low walls, the bottom of which was 16 inches [0.4m] below the level of the floor. There was another wall south of that along the south side of the passage and parallel to it. The reason for this sunken area was not clear, nor was it quite definite that the walls on the south side of it were connected with this house and not with another, though, because we could not find any further remains of another house, we are inclined to think of them as belonging to this one. The sunken area was covered with a 3 inch [0.07m] layer of burnt whitish porous material which chemical examination performed in the Chemistry Department of University College, Cork, showed to have been chiefly composed of a rather sandy clay with a fragment of calcined bone embedded in it. The result of the chemical test, combined with the burnt appearance of the material, showed that this was the remains of the clay daub from the walls of what must have been a wattle-and-daub house. To the west of this house we found many holes of post-hole type but of much smaller diameter such as would be left from the stages of a wattle-structure. They were too numerous to be the result of a single building and there must, therefore, have been successive houses on the site. In one of the stake holes we got the three flint arrow-heads described among the “finds” and in one of the post-holes was found the single arrow-head and a fragment of flint. To the south of this group of stage-holes was a hollow lined with stones at the edge. It was 7 feet [2.13m] long, 3 feet [0.9m] wide and almost 3 feet [0.9m] deep, and may have been a storage pit’. No surface remains visible of excavated house site. See attached plans and photos taken from Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 31 August 2021

• LI048-034023 Earthwork
  Description

  In poorly drained land. Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Site B' which is depicted on his plan as a semi-circular shaped earthwork transected at S by drainage ditch/stream running E-W which forms townland boundary with Moorestown. Faint trace of earthwork possibly visible on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached location map taken from Ó Ríordáin showing 'Site B' and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 31 August 2021

• LI048-034024 Standing stone
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Immediately SE of ringfort (LI048-034016), annotated ‘Pillar Stone’ on the Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map. Westropp (1916-19, 167) described it a consisting of; ‘A low pillar, 5’ 6” [1.65m] and leaning over, stands 26’ [7.92m] distant from the southern ring and to the east.’ Listed by Grogan (1989, Vol. 2, 269) as 'Cush 2'. Possible standing stone visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 28/06/2018. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 7 September 2021

• LI048-034025 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Ringfort 1, Southern Group' with souterrain (LI048-034029-) in SW quadrant of interiors which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), conjoined ringforts (LI048-034027/028/016/041) and ringfort (LI048-034026-) lie to the immediate E. Ringfort 1 excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 88-94) between 1934-5, the results of which were described as follows; ‘It conjoins No. 3 [LI048-034027-] while No. 2 [LI048-034026-] is to the north-east of it but is not conjoined to it, there being an interval of about 14 feet [4.26m] between the fosses at their nearest point. The average internal diameter of the fort is about 58 feet [17.67m] and it’s over-all external diameter is about 30 feet [39.62m]. The defences of the fort consisted in general of a bank and fosse, the latter on the outside, with in places the remains of a much slighter outer bank. Even the inner bank was nowhere very high before excavation, having been denuded so that it showed as only a slight rise from the central area of the fort, though the existence of the fosse on the outside caused the slope to be more distinct on that side of the bank. Excavation at all points where the sections were cut across the defences showed that the fosse of the fort had been excavated to such a depth as to make it necessary for the fort-builders to cut away the under-lying red sandstone. The inner bank of the fort was of clay, there being no stone-work in its construction. The material had obviously been obtained from the fosse as was shown by the fact that we found red sandstone from the cut-away rock, in small fragments and much disintegrated, incorporated in the bank. The slight outer bank already referred to was best preserved on the south side of the fort and this proved to have a stone facing on its outer side. There were on the eastern side of the fort (which was also the higher side) traces of a slight trench inside the bank, this being evidently intended to serve the purpose of preventing the wash from the bank running on to the interior of the fort. The relation between the defences of Ring-Fort 1 and those of the enclosure at their point of contact on the north-west of the fort is interesting. Under the main (inner) bank of the Enclosure we found a trench, about 2 feet [0.6m] in depth, completely silted up, which joined the fosse of the ring-fort and had obviously acted at one time as a drainage trench to drain off the water of the fosse of the fort. Subsequent to the building of the bank of the enclosure its fosse, though it had not been cut directly into the fosse of the fort, would serve to drain the latter, and so made the drainage trench, then covered by the bank, redundant. The existence of the drainage trench is of interest, therefore, as showing definitely that the Enclosure is of later construction than Ring-Fort 1. The entrance to the ring-fort showed several interesting features. It and the entrance of No. 4 [LI048-034028-] were different from those of the other forts by reason of the surrounding fosse being continuous, a fact which indicates that the approach to the fort across the fosse must have been by means of some such structure as a wooden gangway. Inside the fosse were found two pairs of post-holes flanking the gateway, the distance between the posts in each pair being about 5½ feet [1.67m]. Leading from the inner pair of posts towards the centre of the fort for a distance of about 18 feet [5.4m] was a causeway formed by a hard bank of clay, upon which rested a series of large (average size about 2 feet [0.6m] by 1½ feet [0.45m]) stepping stones, that nearest to the centre being a rock of conglomerate about 4 feet [1.2m] by 2½ feet [0.76m] and 14 inches [0.35m] in height. The upper surface of this was considerably above that of the other stones forming the approach and if the position in which it was found was its original one, as seems likely, it cannot at any time have served as a part of the approach but may well have served the purpose of an obstruction for an unwelcome visitor. On the right-hand side (as we enter the fort) of this causeway was a dry-stone wall which extended along a distance of 15 feet [4.57m] and served as a revetment for a bank of earth on the other side of which was a souterrain [LI048-034029-]. On the left-hand side of the causeway were the remains of what had been a stone-wall revetment for the end of the bank of the ring-fort. Numerous post-holes were found within the ring-fort, these divided themselves mainly into two groups, one towards the south-east corner of the excavated area, the other in the north-west corner. The post-holes were most numerous in the former group but it was evident throughout the work on this as on the other ring-forts that we had to do with areas where habitations had been super-imposed one upon the other so as to make it extremely difficult to determine the plan of the houses which had existed there. This was particularly noticeable for instance in the case of a post-hole (L) which was found directly within a hearth. A further difficulty was that stratification was of very little help since the deposit of refuse caused by habitation was nowhere more than some inches in depth and succeeding strata could not be distinguished. Remains of three stone-built hearths were found in the fort, two of these being to the north-west. Near these were found five post-holes which may well have represented some of the walls of a house around one of the hearths, but no post-holes were found around the other. We must therefore conclude, wither (1) that fires were lighted within the shelter of the bank of the fort in some cases without a protecting house, or (2) that the houses in many instance were of a flimsy nature such as required very light post-holes which could not be recognised or of such construction that no post-holes were used. Near these two hearths in the north-west corner of the ring-fort was the greatest accumulation of charcoal and dark humified soil. The group of post-holes in the south-east portion of the ring-fort cannot with certainty be made to fit in with any regular plan. This, as already suggested, may be due to several houses having existed successively on the same site. As an attempt at the reconstruction of the house, we give on the plan a semi-circular outline which fairly well agrees with the position of most of the post-holes. A stone which was originally a quern, but with the central hole so large as to have served as a pivot stone (e.g. for a door) is shown in the position where found. This was not bedded in the firm soil and may have been out of its original position. It does not therefore affect the validity of our suggested reconstruction of the house. Should the house have been circular or semi-circular, one would expect, though this is not essential, a central pot-hole; this however does not exist because, although a post-hole does occur towards the centre of the area, it is not sufficiently nearer the true centre. This post-hole (O) was found covered by a hard clay floor. No indications were found that our suggested house completed a circle in outline, since postholes were not discovered on the western side of the souterrain but the existence of a post-hole (N) approximately on the line between (F) and (M) would suggest a straight wall forming the chord of a circle and completing the house on that side. Our suggested reconstruction however must allow for the fact that after this house had gone out of use the same area of the ring-fort continued in occupation, since hearth No. 3 was built directly over post-hole (L). The relative chronology of Ring-Forts 1 and 3 (LI048-034027-) is illustrated by the s

• LI048-034026 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Ringfort 2, Southern Group' with souterrain (LI048-034030-) in SE quadrant which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), N of conjoined ringforts (LI048-034025/027/016/041-). Excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 101-104) between 1934-5, the results of which were described as follows; Ring-Fort No. 2 [LI048-034026-] lies to the north-east of No. 1 [LI048-034025-] and to the north of No. 3 [LI048-034027-]. Its fosse and that of the latter fort touch, but as already explained the fosse of No. 2 is separated by an interval from the nearest point of No. 1 [LI048-034025-]. A modern fence runs though Ring-Fort No. 2 and cuts off a small part of it on its northern side. That portion of the fort to the northern side of this field fence is much better preserved than that to the south of it and gives us evidence to which the banks of the ring-forts in general have been denuded. The entrance to the Ring-Fort No. 2 we found to be on the western side of the fort and immediately south of the modern field fence. The fosses at this point ceased, leaving a passage between their ends about 14 feet [4.26m] wide. No trace could be found of post-holes of the gates posts which one would have expected as a protection for the interior of the fort. Remains were found, however, of a small house just inside the entrance and on the southern side of it. We found here under a considerable depth of earth – about 2 feet [0.6m] below the present-day surface level-a floor formed by packing pebbles into the clay; a small portion of a similar floor occurred near the centre of the fort. On the southern limits of this floor was a wall of rather poor construction which was revealed as an irregular setting of stones in a clay bank. In it was a post-hole (P) lined on top with pacing of small stones and having a depth of 18 inches [0.45m] under them. The fact that this floor and wall were found so well covered beneath the modern surface level is due to the fat that they lay close to the bank of the fort and that the latter in its collapse inwards had covered them. No other portions of the walls of this house could be obtained but a post-hole (N) is in the same line as the wall and may have marked the eastern extent of the house. No further evidence of its size could be obtained. In relation to the entrance to the fort we must remember that the building of the modern fence would be likely to destroy much of the previously existing evidence on the northern side of the fort. At the centre of the fort was found a hearth and built of flat slabs set on end around an area about 2½ feet [0.76m] in length and 2 feet [0.6m] in breadth, the stones having an average thickness of about 4 inches [0.1m]. The interior was excavated very carefully and we found it to contain near the centre a roughly circular area less that 2 feet [0.6m] in diameter which was filled to a depth of about 3 inches [0.07m] with a mixture of charcoal and humified soil with some traces of burnt clay, Among this material were some very few and very small pieces of calcined bone. Around the hearth were found many post-holes of varying sizes though usually small (diameter varying from 2¾ [0.06m] to 7 inches [0.17m]). It was not possible to form any regular plan from these post-holes and the fact that they represented several successive houses on the site was shown by there being a group of four post-holes (D) within the hearth already described. Several pits filled with humified soil were found within the fort; the two which occurred near the centre being the largest, each having a depth of about 16 inches [0.4m], the length and breadth of one being 5 feet [1.5m] and 2 feet [0.6m] 9 inches [0.22m] respectively, while the other was 3 feet [0.91m]in length and 2 feet [0.6m] in breadth. While we suppose that these were used as storage pits their excavation yielded no evidence confirmatory of this. Two shallow trenches (4 inches [0.1m] deep and about 6 inches [0.15m] wide) to the north-east of the excavated area were traceable for a distance of 8 feet [2.43m] and 10 feet [3.04m] respectively and may represent the foundation of wooden walls. West of the centre of the fort remained portions of a paving built of flat stones the larger of which were about 2 feet [0.6m] in greatest dimension’. Ringfort is subject to Preservation Order 34 (23/01/1935). Monument visible as a circular shaped area defined by a fosse truncated at N by a post-1700 field boundary running E-W on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans taken from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 2 September 2021

• LI048-034027 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Ringfort 3, Southern Group' with souterrain (LI048-034031-) in NE quadrant of interior which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), the earthwork N of three conjoined ringforts (LI048-034028/016/041-). Excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 101-104) between 1934-5, the results of which were described as follows; 'Ring-Fort 3 is as it were the focus of the three forts 1 [LI048-034025-], 2 [LI048-034026-] and 4 [LI048-034028-]. It is in the main surrounded by the usual single fosse and bank but has on about one-third of its circumference on the eastern side a second (outer) bank and fosse, this latter fosse connecting at its northern end with the fosse of No. 2 [LI048-034026-] and at its southern end with that of No. 4 [LI048-034028-]. The entrance to Ring-Fort 3 is on the western side of the fort where the fosses are interrupted by a solid passage about 17 feet [5.18m] in width. The end of the fosse at either side of the entrance was found to have a facing of dry stone masonry. That portion of the fosse to the northern side of the entrance was filled with silting containing much organic refuse in which was a considerable amount of clay reddened by burning. Within the fort, the entrance was protected by two pairs of posts, the centre of the outer pair of holes for which were about 6 feet [1.8m] apart, those of the second pair about 10 feet [3.04m]. Outside the southern post-holes were found the remains of a stone kerb set on the inner side of the bank. No further traces of walls or house foundations, as evidently were, could be found over this area which also showed only one post-hole about 10 feet [3.04m] west of the two rows of stones first referred to. Several groups of post-holes on the southern and south-eastern side of the ring-fort are so placed as to suggest rectangular houses, no group however being so clear as unambiguously to give the plan of a house, and, as in the other ring-forts dealt with, superimposing of houses at various times must be regarded as the reason for this. One group of seven post-holes and a groove (12 feet [3.65m] long and 9 inches [0.22m] deep), which may be a wall foundation, on the southern side of the ring-fort suggest a roughly rectangular house, which may have been paved with rather large flat-stones (having an average of about 8 inches [0.2m] greatest dimension). If we are correct in our supposition that this group represents one house, its dimensions would be 16 feet [4.87] by 12 feet [3.65m]. North of this we find four post-holes in an almost exact straight line, the distance between the end post-holes being 11 feet [3.35m]. This again, though we cannot complete the house plan, we must regard as the side of a house. East of these is a further group of post-holes which do not make a definite plan, though the dotted line shown may represent the position of the house walls. On the eastern side of the unroofed portion of the souterrain was an area paved with stone evidently part of a house floor. In order to get a section of the defences of the fort on its eastern side we cut through the banks and fosses here. On the top of the inner bank of the fort we found a small cist-like structure presumably a hearth, the interior measurements of which were: 1¾ feet [0.53m] by 1¼ feet [0.38m]; it was built of stones having a thickness of about 7 inches [0.17m], set on edge, The structure is similar to that already described in the centre of Ring 2 [LI048-034026-] with the difference that the latter was more oblong in outline and had only three side while this one had four. Careful excavation did not yield among the clay filling of the hearth anything more than some small fragments of unidentifiable calcined bone. A hearth on the top of a bank is a surprising feature. The relative age of Ring-Forts 1 [LI048-034025-] and 3 [LI048-034027-] has been discussed when dealing with the former fort. We made attempts to procure, by means of sections across the fosses, similar evidence regarding the relative date of No. 3 as compared with Nos. 2 [LI048-034026-] and 4 [LI048-034028-]. The result was, however, inconclusive. We found that the fosses of No. 3 in most cases cut into the underlying rock and the sections also showed that the inner fosse of No. 3, while it touched that of No. 1 [LI048-034025-] and No. 2 [LI048-034026-], cut into the fosse of No. 4 [LI048-034028-] but did not coincide with it, giving in section a composite outline, the fosse of the latter fort having been cut lower that that of the former. The section further revealed that though the fosses of the three ring-forts may not have been cut at the same time they were probably still free of silting when the latest of the three was cut. The section across the eastern defences of Ring-Fort 3 showed that the outer fosse was as deep, though not quite so wide, as the inner one. The outer bank was better preserved than the inner. The filling of the outer fosse was particularly uniform and was a much darker silting that that in the inner fosse suggesting that it consisted largely of the peaty material washed form the hill-side above the fort.’ Ringfort is subject to Preservation Order 34 (23/01/1935). Earthwork visible as a circular shaped area defined by a fosse on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans and photos taken from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 2 September 2021

• LI048-034028 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Ringfort 4, Southern Group' which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), the middle earthwork of three conjoined ringforts (LI048-034027/016/041-). Excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 101-104) between 1934-5, the results of which were described by as follows; ‘This ringfort, lying between Nos. 3 [LI048-034027-] and 5 [LI048-034016-], is crossed by a modern earth and stone fence which passes through the entrance of the Enclosure. The part of the ring-fort to the north of the fence had suffered much more damage than that on the south and, while the banks and fosses were well marked in the latter portion, those on the north were very denuded as in the case of the forts we have already dealt with. The portion south of the fence was also particularly uneven of surface as compared with any of the other ring-forts and excavation proved that this unevenness was due to the existence of a large and complex souterrain, the greater part of the roof of which had collapsed, so causing a subsidence. When the turf was removed from the interior of this fort we found an accumulation of humified soil, charcoal and loose stones such as might come from dry-stone walls. Most of the loose stones were obviously collapsed, others were still in position representing the lower courses of walls, while many left one in doubt as to whether they were part of a sensible design or not. We tried to plot all the stones that appeared still to form the remains of the buildings and these will be found on the plan. At the centre of the fort was a hearth somewhat similar to that in Fort No. 2 [LI048-034026-]. A few feet north of this hearth and running eastwards was a series of flat stones which evidently formed the base of a wall that, near the eastern rampart of the fort, formed an approximate right angle by turning south-wards. This latter portion of the wall, however, was of uneven stonework and not of slabs as was the northern arm. Its line was continued by another wall on a lower level which formed the one wall of the approach to the souterrain. The approach led from the centre of the fort and was cut from the solid rock in which were a series of six post-holes (A to F on plan) which gave evidence of a timber structure leading to the souterrain proper, while the walls already referred to suggested an overground building associated with the souterrain. Several post-holes were found between the hearth at the centre of the fort and the southern part of the souterrain as well as some further portions of walls, but no complete house could be traced. The entrance to the ring-fort had evidently existed where the modern fence crosses the fosse on the western side but excavation at this point revealed that no causeway across the fosse had existed here and approach must have been as in the case of Ring-Fort No. 1 [LI048-034025-], by means of a wooden gangway’. Ringfort is subject to Preservation Order 34 (23/01/1935). Visible as a circular shaped area defined by a fosse bisected by a post-1700 field boundary running E-W on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans and photos taken from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 31 August 2021

• LI048-034029 Souterrain
  Description

  Souterrain in SW quadrant of ringfort (LI048-034025-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5, the results of which were described by as follows; ‘The souterrain was, when found, completely silted up and, judging by the large amount of decayed organic matter in the silting it appears as if this had filled in during the occupation of the fort. The length of the souterrain was about 27 feet [8.2m]. At no point was the roof in position but some of the roofing slabs were found in the collapsed material, though sufficient were not found to make it appear as if all had dropped into the structure and we may suppose that some of them had been removed after the souterrain had gone out of use. The side walls were formed of comparatively small stones (average greatest dimension about 8 inches) [0.2m] with, here and there, a much larger block inserted, one of these being 3½ feet [1m] in length. The floor sloped in from the direction of the centre of the fort and the inner end of the structure was built into the bank of the ring-fort. The width of the souterrain along most of its length was rather less than 2 feet [0.6m] but it widened at the inner and outer ends to over 3 feet [0.9m]. The height of the walls which remained was about 2½ feet [0.6m].’ See attached plans and photos taken from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 1 September 2021

• LI048-034030 Souterrain
  Description

  Souterrain in SE quadrant of ringfort (LI048-034026-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Excavation of the interior of ‘Ringfort 2’ uncovered the remains of a souterrain, described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 96) as follows; ‘Running from near the centre in a direction slightly south of east was a souterrain which had a length of a little over 14 feet [4.26m] and an average breadth of somewhat less than 2 feet [0.6m]. The clay at the western end had been cut away so as to slope from the ground surface to the floor of the souterrain thus forming an approach to the latter. The stones shown at the north-eastern corner of this souterrain were evidently the remains of a ventilation shaft such as we shall see much better represented in connection with souterrains in some of the other Ring-Forts.’ See attached plans and photos taken from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 2 September 2021

• LI048-034031 Souterrain
  Description

  Souterrain in NE quadrant of ringfort (LI048-034027-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 97-100) between 1934-5, the results of which were described as follows; ‘The souterrain in this ring-fort was a very interesting one. In all it may be regarded as consisting of three portions, (1) a roofed portion about 18 feet [5.4m] in length, (2) an unroofed portion at right angles to the roofed part again about 18 feet [5.4m] in length and (3) an approach about 16 feet [4.87m] long at right angles to the unroofed part and indicated by post-holes only. The unroofed portion (2) of the souterrain had the walls but none of the roofing-slabs in position, nor did we find in it such slabs as would suggest that it had at any time been covered by a stone built roof. Another feature of note was that the silting which filled the souterrain showed markedly a distinction between that portion that came from the unroofed part of the souterrain and that which filled the portion which was roofed. The former containing a large amount of decayed organic matter was very dark in colour; that recovered from the roofed portion of the souterrain (the silting filled the structure almost entirely up to the roof) was very free from organic material and was such as would have washed in through the interstices of the roof in the course of time, but most of that in the outer unroofed part of the souterrain must have accumulated during the habitation of the fort. The average breadth of the souterrain was 3 feet [0.91m]. The height of the stone roof of the souterrain about the floor of the structure was in general about 2½ feet [0.76m] but two of the largest slabs towards the western end dipped at their junction so as to leave only about 1 foot [0.3m] between them and the floor. The final about 2½ feet [0.76m] of the floor at the western end rose to form a step about 6 inches [0.15m] high. Running north-west from the western end of the souterrain for a distance of 19 feet [5.79m] were a number of stones which had evidently been part of a drain-like structure that connect with the souterrain under the roof and ended at the rampart of the fort. It must therefore have served the purposed of providing ventilation for the souterrain, this being done in such a manner that the source of the ventilation would escape the unwelcome attention of attackers of the dwellers of the fort who might have taken refuge in the souterrain. Similar remains of a ventilation shaft have been mention in connection with the souterrain in Ring-Fort 2 [LI048-034026-] but that in Ring-Fort 3 [LI048-034027-] was actually the one first excavated; other better examples were found later and will be described in connection with Forts 4 [LI048-034028-], 5 [LI048-034016-], 8 [LI048-034037-] and 9 [LI048-034036-]. What we have called the approach to the souterrain was found when we cleared the end of the stone-built part of the structure and, by removing from it the accumulation of silting, revealed an area about 16 feet [4.87m] by 10 feet [3.04m] which was three feet lower than the level of the surface of the fort. The floor of this area was the solid underlying red sandstone and into this had been cut five post-holes, the average depth of which was 10 inches [0.25m]. These were so arranged that three were in a straight line, the other two being along a line parallel to these and the two rows of post-holes were so placed as to form the two side of an approach to the souterrain. We, therefore, have to do here with post-holes that supported a timber structure which completed the plan of the building.’ See attached plans taken from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 2 September 2021

• LI048-034032 Souterrain
  Description

  Souterrain in S quadrant of bivallate ringfort (LI048-034037-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. A second souterrain (LI048-034033-) was uncovered in the N quadrant of the ringfort. Excavations uncovered the remains of a souterrain (L. 10m; Wth 0.9m - 1.5m), described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-9) as; 'The southern souterrain was 33 feet [10m] in length and had attached to its southern end a ventilation passage 16 feet [4.9m] long. The souterrain may be regarded as of two parts, which a break in the continuity of the stone walls showed to have been built at different dates. The southern portion of the souterrain was fairly regularly straight-sided but closed in somewhat where it met the more irregularly-built northern portion. The southern part was somewhat under 3 feet [0.9m] in width but the northern part widened, by reason of a bend in the eastern wall to 5 feet [1.5m]. The symmetrical plan of the southern portion of the structure and the inferior stone-work of the northern part suggest that the latter was the later addition. The ventilation shaft of this souterrain was the best example of this feature found in any of the Cush souterrains. It was almost sixteen feet long and had a width of 10 inches [0.25m] internally. Some of the covering of flat slabs remained in position. The depth was on an average about 1 foot [0.3m], though some of the side slabs had a height of 19 inches [0.48m]. The ventilation passage joined the end wall of the souterrain at the top, at a height of 5 feet [1.5m] above the floor'. No surface remains visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 or on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 25 August 2021

• LI048-034033 Souterrain
  Description

  Souterrain in N quadrant of bivallate ringfort (LI048-034037-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. A second souterrain (LI048-034032-) was uncovered in the S quadrant of the ringfort. Excavations in N quadrant of ringfort interior uncovered the remains of a souterrain (L. 7m; Wth 1.2m), described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 129) as; 'The northern souterrain consisted in the main of a straight parallel-sided stone-built structure, 23 feet in length and nearly 4 feet in breadth, but having had attached to it a timber-built approach of which the four post-holes were found. These post-holes were so arranged as to show that the timber structure was almost at right-angles to the main stone-built part of the souterrain. The ground had been cut down at the southern side so as to allow easy access to the end of this timber approach’. No surface remains visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 or on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 25 August 2021

• LI048-034034 Souterrain
  Description

  Souterrain in W half of ringfort (LI048-034007-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Excavation of the interior of Ringfort 10 uncovered the remains of a souterrain, described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-9) as follows; ‘The length of the stone-built portion of the souterrain was 22 feet [6.7m], while the total length was 36 feet [11m] if we include the approach – a narrow area where the clay was sloped away from the end to the level of the floor of the structure. The walls were parallel, but not straight, and the distance between them slightly under 4 feet [1.2m], while the best portions were slightly over 4 feet [1.2m] in height'. See attached plans from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 26 August 2021

• LI048-034035 Souterrain
  Description

  Souterrain in NE quadrant of bivallate ringfort (LI048-034016-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) between 1934-5. Souterrain described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 113) as follows; 'In dealing with the various evidences of habitation of the fort a sequence of events was suggested. It is difficult to be sure what is the chronological relationship between the houses and the souterrain which was uncovered on the north-east of the fort. It seems likely that the souterrain was earlier than the wooden houses represented by the dark bands of charcoal. That the souterrain was, however, certainly earlier than at least one of the burials (Burial No. 1 [LI048-034017-]) is shown by the fact that the souterrain was partly filled with and covered by the reddish layer of sand and clay, upon which lay the bed of charcoal which evidently represented the remains for the fire used for cremation purposes and in which lay the cordoned urn Burial No. 1 [LI048-034017-]. The structure of the souterrain was different from that of the other examples discovered during the excavation in being composed of two long compartments connected by a narrow passage somewhat over 2 feet [0.6m] in length and having an effective breadth of 1 foot and 8 inches [0.5m] and a height of about 2 feet [0.6m]. The southern compartment of the souterrain had a length of 10 feet [3.04m] and a breadth of 3½ feet [1.06m]. At the north-eastern corner was a passage through the wall formed by the omission of stones at the floor of the structure so as to leave an opening 11 inches [0.27m] in width and 1 foot 3 inches [0.37m] in height. This could not have been used as an entrance or exist passage because not only is the opening extremely small but outside it is the solid rock cut back to some extent but not sufficiently to allow of the opening being used as a means of entrance and exit. It is therefore evident that we have to do with another such vent as has been mentioned in the case of several other souterrains, though in this instance we find the vent near the floor and not, as in the other examples, near the roof. Because of the way in which the rock was cut so as to slope upwards from the floor level to the outer end of the opening, the latter could not have been used for drainage purposes.’ See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 5 September 2021

• LI048-034036 Earthwork
  Description

  In rough pasture, in N quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temair Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). The ringfort stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), standing between two ringforts (LI048-034007/037-). Listed as Ringfort No. 9 in the ‘Northern Group’ of forts excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 130-1) between 1934-5, who described it as ; 'The earthwork marked as No. 9 is for convenience called a fort but a "section excavated across it showed that it had not at any time been complete. The section revealed a few post-holes but gave no evidence that there had been any enclosing fosse or palisade. The reason for No. 9 must therefore be the desire to connect up Nos. 8 and 10 and to provide some protection for the area below the connecting earthwork. A fosse and bank in the form of an arc of a circle were therefore built, running into the fosse of Ring-Fort 8 [LI048-034037-] at the one end and into that of No. 10 [LI048-034007-] at the other. The building of this bank and fosse we must connect with the fact that the eastern, upper sides of Forts 8 and 10 were more complex as to defence than were the other parts of their circumference. From this fact we may conclude that the connecting arc of Fort 9 was constructed at the same time as the defences of Nos. 8 and 10 were strengthened on the east. An arc of a circle does not give much help for "defence," properly so called, and it is doubtful if these additions to the earthworks were ever intended for this purpose but rather for the simpler one of helping the earlier fosses (then perhaps silted up and not easy of clearance) to drain off the wash of water from the hillside above. That this may be the correct solution is suggested by the present day appearance of the site, the land below the earthworks being quite dry while that above is damp; bracken grows on the former while rushes are the characteristic vegetation of the latter'. The curving arc of this earthwork is visible from NW-SE on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 25 August 2021

• LI048-034037 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In rough pasture, in the N quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006-/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Bivallate ringfort stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034036-) immediately to N and ringfort (LI048-034008-) 30m to S. Listed as Ringfort No. 8 in the ‘Northern Group’ of forts by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 128-132) who excavated the monuments on this hillside between 1934-5. Ó Ríordáin described the site as follows; 'This fort, as already mentioned, could before excavation be traced on the ground surface on the eastern side only and there only for one-third of its circumference. On excavation we found that, while the defences were more complex on the eastern side, the fort had been enclosed also on the western side, though here only a single fosse was found. On the eastern side we found three fosses. The middle fosse is the one which encircled the fort. The outer fosse as well as the outer bank represent, I believe, later strengthening on this side. The slight inner fosse is less easy of explanation as it, in all probability, never had a bank on the inside, but may have been dug at the foot of the bank outside it. The feature was evidently considered necessary on the upper side of the fort only, where it would serve to drain off the wash from the bank'. Excavations of the ringfort (diam. c. 30m) revealed a possible entrance at S indicated by 2 postholes (5 feet [1.5m] apart) (ibid. 130), two souterrains (LI048-034032/033-), two house sites and a wattle structure. The house sites were described by Ó Ríordáin (ibid. 129-30) as; 'Two groups of post-holes in Ring 8 give evidence of the existence of houses; one group east of the northern souterrain [LI048-034033-] and one west of the northern end of the southern souterrain [LI048-034032-]. The former group enclosed a hearth of stones laid close together so as to give a flat surface about 5 feet [1.5m] by 4 feet [1.2m]. The absence of charcoal, not only over the hearth but over the whole area, suggested that habitation here must have been for a brief period and in no case intense. The two rows of post-holes on either side of the hearth give a roughly rectangular house approximately 9 feet [2.7m] by 6 feet [1.8m], while, by including the other post-holes and wall-groove of the group, we get a second larger (14 feet by 9 feet) room. The second group of post-holes does not show any such arrangement as would easily suggest a house plan. An interesting discovery to the east of the southern souterrain [LI048-034032-] was the site of a wattle building. To the east of the southern souterrain was the site of a wattle building. This in the main consisted of an arc of two lines (in part four lines) of small stake-holes. The arc was about 14 feet [4.26m] in length and formed about one-fourth of a circle. From its southern end a further series of stake-holes gave the impression of a straight wall running southwards for a distance of 13 feet [3.96m], while a further medley of holes to the west did not help to make the plan intelligible but made it apparent that more than one house of this type had existed here'. The E curving arc of the two banks and intervening fosse are visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plans from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 25 August 2021

• LI048-034038 Urn burial
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture, ringfort (LI048-034008-) 27m to NE, two burial mounds (LI048-034011-012-) immediately to S. In centre of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Excavations of a burial mound (LI048-034010-) listed as ‘Tumulus I’ by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 133-137) between 1934-5, revealed a cist (LI048-034039-). An un burial had previously been recorded during excavations of this burial mound in 1924. According to Ó Ríordáin, ‘the cremated remains found in 1924 were then re-interred at the same spot in an ordinary geranium pot. This re-interred burial was found by us near the centre of the Tumulus [LI048-034010-], as were also some further urn fragments’ (ibid. 1935). See attached plans by Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 27 August 2021

• LI048-034039 Cist
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture, ringfort (LI048-034008-) 27m to NE, two burial mounds (LI048-034011-012-) immediately to S. In centre of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Cist in centre of burial mound (LI048-034010-) listed as ‘Tumulus I’ which was excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 133-137) between 1934-5. An urn burial (LI048-034038-) had previously been uncovered in 1924 from the same burial mound. The long-cist (L. 1.9m; Wth. 0.6m) was revealed below ‘the centre of the mound’ and consisted of; ‘a long cist grave with a pot, which might be described as of “enlarged food-vessel” type, lying on its side near the uprights forming the southern side of the cist, and about one-third of the length of the cist from the western end. The cist had an interior length of 6 feet 3 inches [1.9m], and a breadth in parts of over 2 feet [0.6m]. The floor was covered with a paving of irregular flat stones. The long sides were each formed of three uprights stones; one end consisted of one large upright and the other of two lesser upright stones placed parallel. A setting of smaller stones provided support for the uprights' (ibid. 136). Described by Waddell (1970, 123) as a; ‘Long cist in tumulus [LI048-034038-]; long axis E-W, 6ft. 3ins x 2 ft; contained anomalous food vessel; no bones found’. See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 27 August 2021

• LI048-034040 Cremated remains
  Description

  In rough pasture, in centre of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). One of three bowl-barrows (LI048-034010/012-), within a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 30m to NE and a cist (LI048-034015-) lies 38m to SW. Bowl-barrow listed as Tumulus II (LI048-034012-) with cremated burial , excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 137-8) between 1934-5. Cremated remains described by Ó Ríordáin as follows; 'on the old ground surface an area irregularly circular in outline and about 12 feet [4m] in diameter was found to be covered with a light charcoal deposit in which were scattered fragments of cremated bone. It was evident that this area was the site of a fire, on which, no doubt, the cremation had been carried out and over which the tumulus [LI048-034012-] had been built. Near the centre of the fire-blackened area was a hole somewhat elliptical in outline (diameters 11 inches [0.28m] and 9½ inches [0.24]) and 4 inches [0.1m] deep’. The hole contained cremated bones mixed with charcoal while near the top of the deposit, covered by a thin layer of charcoal, was a small ornamented bone plaque. This plaque had evidently been in the fire and its surface was cracked by the heat' (ibid. 137). See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 30 August 2021

• LI048-034041 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Ringfort 6, Southern Group' which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), the W earthwork of three conjoined ringforts (LI048-034027/028-/016-). Excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 114-115) between 1934-5, the results of which were described as follows; ‘This enclosure cannot be spoken of as a “ring-fort” since its outline is not circular. It is formed by a fosse and bank which run westwards from the western side of Ring 4 [LI048-034028-] and turn southwards approximately at right angles, thus enclosing an area roughly rectangular in outline, bounded on two sides by the fosse and bank already referred to, on the third by the defences of the rectangle and on the fourth side by those of the ring-forts Nos. 5 [LI048-034016-] and 4 [LI048-034028-]. Near the northern side of this fort was noticed an irregular mound which we excavated with the following results. We stripped off the over-lying turf and more heavily humified top soil and found a deposit of charcoal and in some places fragments of burnt clay so distributed as to give the outline of what was a rectangular house, of length 17 feet [5.18m] and about 10 feet [3.04m] in breadth. This structure was of wattle-and-daub as is shown by the fragments of burned clay which had in them impressions of very small twigs or thatch, and also by the fact that the charcoal deposit consisted largely of small timbers as would be used in such a structure. We excavated the area in very thin layers, drawing the black area carefully at each level. The final plan is a combination of the result of these plottings, the more closely hatched areas being those where the evidence was most definite. Four post-holes were found, three of which were in such a position as to show that they could have served as supports for posts of the side walls; one towards the middle may have been the support of a ridge pole. It was not possible to find any other post holes which would make more definite our ideas on the method of construction. The external measurements of the house would seem to have been about 22 feet [6.7m] by 14 feet [4.26m]. Across the area on the western side ran an irregular trench which connected the fosse at the northern side of Fort 6 [LI048-034041-] with the fosse of the rectangle at the south-western corner of the fort, the purpose of this trench not being at all clear.’ Ringfort is subject to Preservation Order 34 (23/01/1935). Visible as a sub-rectangular shaped area defined by a fosse on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached plan by from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 1 September 2021

• LI048-034042 Enclosure
  Description

  Reassigned this SMR number to the rectangular enclosure described by Ó Ríordáin. In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). Listed by Ó Ríordáin as 'Enclosure, Southern Group' which stands inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), the W earthwork of six conjoined ringforts (LI048-034025-/026-/027-/028-/016-/041-). Rectangular enclosure described by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 88, 115-16) as follows; ‘The earthworks of the Southern Group cover about three acres, and consist of Ring-Forts 1 to 5 (LI048-034-025-/026-/-27-/028-/016-), the approximately rectangular area delimited by a fosse and bank which we shall refer to as the "Enclosure" and the portion of a fort (LI048-034041-) marked No. 6 which is in the south-eastern corner of the Enclosure and enclosed partly by the bank of the latter and partly by the defences of Ring-Forts Nos. 4 (LI048-034028-) and 5 (LI048-034016-). Forts 2 (LI048-034026-), 3 (LI048-034027-), 4 (LI048-034028-) and 5 (LI048-034016-) form an almost straight line running approximately N.N.W.-S.S.E. along the contour of the hill. Forts Nos. 1 (LI048-034025-) and 6 (LI048-034041-) as well as the Enclosure lie to the west of these and below them on the hill-slope. The western side of the enclosure follows almost exactly the 700' [200m] contour line being but slightly higher at the northern than the southern end. The whole Southern Group is marked on the Ordnance Sheet Cul Uachtrach but locally the use of the name seemed to be confined to that portion of the group south of the modern fence that runs up the slope of the hill and across the Fort'. This enclosure was excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 115-18) who described his results as follows; 'The area which we have termed the Enclosure is that part of the Southern Group which has on three sides of it a bank and fosse, and on the fourth side the group of conjoined ring-forts. The northern and western sides of the Enclosure are defended by a slight outer bank in addition to the fosse and inner bank. Part of the western bank still served as a modern field fence. Sections cut across the defences of the enclosure at various points showed that the fosse was, in general, cut well into the underlying rock and was a more formidably built defence than the fosse of any of the ring-forts. In the investigation of the interior we stripped several comparatively large areas and made trial cuttings elsewhere, as, of course, it was not feasible to attempt the investigation of the whole of such a large area. Inside the bank on the southern side we found a line of twelve large but shallow post-holes (diameters from 1 to 3 feet [0.3-0.9m], average depth 8 inches [0.2m], which appeared to have been intended for some structure which strengthened the defences on that side, though we did not find any evidence of a similar structure elsewhere. We were not able to find any reason for the existence of the post-holes at this point since the clearing of two wide strips inside them revealed no trace of a building here. The surface indications suggested that the entrance to the Enclosure was to be found where the east-west modern field-fence crossed the defences. Excavation showed that this was correct. It was found that the fosses ceased, the one directly under the modern fence, the other about 12 feet [3.65m] from it, thus leaving a passage over 13 feet [4m] wide between the ends. No traces could be found of any protective structure, timber or stone, to guard the entrance. Crossing the Enclosure from the western side of Ring-Fort 1(LI048-034025-) was a slight bank and a fosse which deepened towards the south where it ran into the fosse of the Enclosure. This was part of a series of fosses and shallower trenches which were found in the Enclosure, particularly in the south-east of it. The reason for these was not clear they evidently represented successive changes in the settlement, the relative chronology of which was not apparent. Thus the fosse of Ring-Fort 6 at the angle where it turned south along the western side of the fort was also continued westwards and northwards. The westward extension joined the north-south fosse which crossed the Enclosure and which is referred to above. It was not practicable to follow the northward extension but a trial trench did not reveal it at the other side of the modern fence. Other slight trenches, these evidently intended for drainage purposes, were found west of the north-south cross fosse and were so constructed as to carry superfluous water towards the southern fosse of the Enclosure. 'House a' (LI048-034045-) - This house, the first one discovered, was found on the western side of Ring-Fort 1 (LI048-034025-), just inside, and partly covered by, the bank of the enclosure. There were no surface indications of the house having existed at this spot and its discovery was due to the fact that a section across the fosse and bank of the Enclosure happened to strike the house. The site is marked (a) on the general plan and for convenience we shall refer to the house as 'House a'. Though the house was partly under the bank of the Enclosure (LI048-034042-), one could not say if it was earlier than the latter or was merely covered by some of the material of the bank because of the spreading out of this material subsequent to the collapse of the bank. The latter seems the more likely alternative. 'House b' [LI048-034046-] - The construction of this house was totally different from that of any other of the houses found. It consisted of an approximately rectangular area (about 23 feet [7m] in length by slightly over 10 feet [3m] in breadth) sunk to a depth of about 3 feet [0.9m] in the ground and stone-walled around most of its perimeter. 'Site c' [LI048-034047-] - More than one house existed at this site but for convenience they are dealt with under one title and they are differentiated from House b which to some extent was situated on the same site. The main house found on Site c was built in part directly over House b. 'House d' [LI048-034048-] - At the site marked d we found a post-hole house irregular in outline. It was approached from the westward by a narrow sunken way, less than 2 feet [0.6m] wide at its narrowest, hollowed to a depth of about 6 inches [0.15m] out of the boulder clay, and edged along part of its course by a setting of stones. 'Site e' [LI048-034049-] - Here on the western side of Fort 6 (LI048-034041-) we cleared a considerable area in the hope of getting house sites'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien and Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 8 September 2021

• LI048-034043 Souterrain
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture overlooking Glennacroghery Stream 38m to SW. Enclosure (LI048-034003-) 40m to S. Souterrain in SW quadrant of levelled earthwork (LI048-034002-) uncovered during field levelling works in 1995 and described by Celie O’Rahilly as follows; ‘The only trace of the enclosure (LI048-034002-) is a curving mound to the north-west. According to Mr Gubbins there was a dip to the south-west which he wished to level by infilling with a rise of c. 1m to the north-east. This may have been a ditch between an inner and outer bank, as shown on the O.S. sheet or it may have been a natural declivity, possible an old river/stream course. During the machine levelling, a flag was moved and the cavity below revealed. On arrival a single large captstone, now broken, was lying to one side and it was possible to enter the cavity. This consists of a rectangular stone built chamber aligned south-west/north-east. It measures 2.4m long, (at roof level), 1.3m wide by a visible height of 1.1m. There was, however, a large amount of spillage from the levelling activity as well as accumulation of earth over time. There were at least six courses of rounded stones in the side wall. There is a course of large flat stone acting as corbels on the top of the walls and these are covered with three large flat flags or slabs which form the roof of the chamber. The south-west end seems to be an end. To the south, at the end of the side wall there is a space, c. 0.3m high, between the two large stones (of the wall) and the corbel and this cavity extends southwards for at least 1m. The north-east end could extend further but the ramp of soil has covered the wall up. Some bone was removed from the area and as far as I can tell this was animal bone. To the north of the chamber on the levelled ground is an area of dark soil with charcoal flecks, more animal bone and burnt clay. The chamber does not appear to be a cist: given its construction and association with the enclosure it may be a souterrain.’ See attached photos taken by Celie O’Rahilly 15/08/1995 Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 7 September 2021

• LI048-034044 Souterrain
  Description

  Souterrain in SE quadrant of ringfort (LI048-034028-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 102-3) between 1934-5, the results of which were described as follows; ‘At the centre of the fort was a hearth somewhat similar to that in Fort No. 2. A few feet north of this hearth and running eastwards was a series of flat stones which evidently formed the base of a wall that, near the eastern rampart of the fort, formed an approximate right angle by turning south wards. This latter portion of the wall, however, was of uneven stonework and not of slabs as was the northern arm. Its line was continued by another wall on a lower level which formed the one wall of the approach to the souterrain. This approach led from the centre of the fort and was cut from the solid rock in which were a series of six post-holes (A to F on plan) which gave evidence of a timber structure leading to the souterrain proper, while the walls already referred to suggested an overground building associated with the souterrain. The entrance to the latter was narrowed by a jutting out of the wall on the western side terminating in a well-shaped upright stone, rectangular in section, between which and the opposite wall the width was about 2 feet [0.6m]. From here a passage ran south wards for about 12 feet [3.65m] and terminated in a long passage running in both directions at right angles to it. At the point of junction there was a single step formed of a large slab, the level of the floor of the long passage being lower than that of the one by which it was approached. One arm of the long passage was about 18 feet [5.5m] in length and was unroofed. At its termination was a ventilation shaft which was built from the end wall just under the top and ran from there to the inner side of the fosse of the ring-fort on the south eastern side. The opposite arm of the long passage was unroofed for a distance of about 20 feet [6m] and here it turned so as to form an obtuse angle and was roofed for a distance of 9 feet [2.74m]. From this point the passage narrowed so as to become a stone-built and stone-roofed drain for a distance of 10 feet [3m], after which the stone work of the drain no longer continued, but the drain itself was found to go on so as to carry off water from the souterrain to the fosse of the ring-fort on the western side. We noticed over this unroofed portion of the drain a dark layer of charcoal which by its position suggested that a wooden instead of a stone covering had existed over this part of the drain. Several post-holes were found between the hearth at the centre of the fort and the southern part of the souterrain as well as some further portions of walls, but no complete house could be traced'. See attached plan and photo taken from Ó Ríordáin Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 September 2021

• LI048-034045 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). House site 'a' in NE corner of rectangular enclosure (LI048-034042-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 115-18) who described his results as follows; 'The area which we have termed the Enclosure [LI048-034042-) is that part of the Southern Group which has on three sides of it a bank and fosse, and on the fourth side the group of conjoined ring-forts (LI048-034027/028-/016-). The northern and western sides of the Enclosure are defended by a slight outer bank in addition to the fosse and inner bank. In the investigation of the interior we stripped several comparatively large areas and made trial cuttings elsewhere, as, of course, it was not feasible to attempt the investigation of the whole of such a large area. 'House a' - This house, the first one discovered, was found on the western side of Ring-Fort 1 [LI048-034025-], just inside, and partly covered by, the bank of the enclosure. There were no surface indications of the house having existed at this spot and its discovery was due to the fact that a section across the fosse and bank of the Enclosure happened to strike the house. The site is marked (a) on the general plan and for convenience we shall refer to the house as House a. Though the house was partly under the bank of the Enclosure, one could not say if it was earlier than the latter or was merely covered by some of the material of the bank because of the spreading out of this material subsequent to the collapse of the bank. The latter seems the more likely alternative. The distinctive feature of the house was its having a compact floor of clay and gravel so packed or beaten down as to give in the main an excellent surface. Such a floor is similar to that which is to be found in many of the present-day less pretentious farm-house living rooms. This hard floor was in two portions, one, the larger, being about 1 foot [0.3m] higher than the other; the boulder clay sloped down abruptly from the higher to the lower portion of the floor. The larger, northern, portion of the floor was about 18 feet [5.5m] in length by 11 feet [3.3m] in breadth, the dimensions of the lower portion being 7 [2.1m] and 4½ feet [1.4m] respectively. The construction of the floor was much better and showed a harder surface over the larger portion than over the smaller; it was particularly bad on the eastern part of the latter. No attempt had been made by the makers of the house to secure a horizontal floor, and it therefore sloped in the same direction as the surface of the hill-side, there being a fall of about 10 inches [0.25m] from the eastern to the western end. A total of thirteen post-holes was discovered in connection with the house. The depths varied from 20 inches [0.5m] in the case of A to 5 inches [0.12m] in the case of G. Some stones placed in an upright position were found at the northern edge of the larger floor area and parallel to the southern edge of the smaller area and about 2 feet [0.6m]in from it. These were obviously the remains of the walls; the lower parts of which must have been constructed of stone while the upper portions were of wood. The two portions of the floor suggest that the house consisted of two parts, a comparatively large room marked by the post-holes (A), (B), (D), (E) with the shallow post-hole (C), which evidently supported a buttress to the long north side, and a smaller area marked by the post-holes (I), (J), (K), (L), which are so arranged that they may have supported an over-hanging roof or veranda type of structure. The post-hole (M) must be the result of some repair or change in the building because it occurred at a place where a hearth had afterwards been situate, there being much charcoal here and the large stone was burnt on the inside surface. The post-holes (F), (G), (H) which lie along a line parallel to that of (E), (I), (J) and are shallow (average depth 6 inches [0.15m]) compared with the depth of the other post-holes, can best be explained as indicating a lean-to structure or addition to the eastern side of the house. One hearth over post-hole (M) has already been mentioned. There was another, a setting of stones grouped together and having much charcoal around them, on the floor near the north-west of the house'. See attached plans and photographs of excavated house taken from Ó Ríordáin 1940. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 December 2021

• LI048-034046 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). House site b in SE quadrant of rectangular enclosure (LI048-034042-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 115-18) who described his results as follows; 'The area which we have termed the Enclosure [LI048-034042-) is that part of the Southern Group which has on three sides of it a bank and fosse, and on the fourth side the group of conjoined ring-forts (LI048-034027/028-/016-). The northern and western sides of the Enclosure are defended by a slight outer bank in addition to the fosse and inner bank. In the investigation of the interior we stripped several comparatively large areas and made trial cuttings elsewhere, as, of course, it was not feasible to attempt the investigation of the whole of such a large area. ‘House b’ [LI048-034046-] - The construction of this house was totally different from that of any other of the houses found. It consisted of an approximately rectangular area (about 23 feet [7m] in length by slightly over 10 feet [3m] in breadth) sunk to a depth of about 3 feet [0.9m] in the ground and stone-walled around most of its perimeter. The southern half of the floor of this area was paved with large flat stones, the northern portion was unpaved. Four post-holes were found in the floor; three of these (A), (B) and (C) were situate along the middle line of the floor and one (D) near the middle of the southern side. The central post-hole (A) was square (about 5 inch [0.12m] side) and 17 inches [0.43m] deep. The holes (A) and (C) were smaller only 3 inches [0.07m] in diameter and depths 7 inches [0.17m] and 14 inches [0.35m] respectively. These three post-holes probably held the supports for the roof-tree of the structure, which gives us a clue of the type of house. The lower portions of the walls were stone-built and backed against the undisturbed clay, as found by excavation. Above this level no remains of walls were found and, unless the roof sprang directly from the stone portion, the upper parts of the walls were presumably either of organic material or of turf. Resting on these walls were, we may suppose, the two sloping portions of the roof which came together on a roof-tree running along the length of the house from east to west. There were several features of this house which are not easy of explanation. On the eastern side it had been built into a silted-up fosse - the one already referred to as running from the western side of Ring 1 to the fosse of the Enclosure. At the south-east corner the walls of the house tailed off into this fosse for a distance of five feet. This narrow passage may have served as an approach to the house or as an addition to it. The western end of the house was incomplete, the walls coming round in arcs at the corners - but leaving a gap of 4 feet [1.2m] between the ends. There was no indication that this wall had at any time been complete, and in connection with this it is notable that immediately outside this gap the ground had been cut to a broad shallow trench, about 2 feet [0.6m] in depth, which led into an irregular silted-up hollow in the boulder clay. The purpose of this hollow is not at all clear - nor in conjunction with a hollow in such a position is that of the house itself. During the excavation there was a continuous stream of water running down the middle of the house floor and filling this hollow to the west of it. The thought easily suggested itself that this hollow was suitable for bathing and that a connected house would fill a role as an accessory of a bath. It seems too daring, however, to postulate, on the available evidence, that this was the purpose it served in ancient times'. See attached plans and photograph of excavated house taken from Ó Ríordáin 1940. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 December 2021

• LI048-034047 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). House site c in SE quadrant of rectangular enclosure (LI048-034042-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 115-18) who described his results as follows; 'The area which we have termed the Enclosure [LI048-034042-) is that part of the Southern Group which has on three sides of it a bank and fosse, and on the fourth side the group of conjoined ring-forts (LI048-034027/028-/016-). The northern and western sides of the Enclosure are defended by a slight outer bank in addition to the fosse and inner bank. In the investigation of the interior we stripped several comparatively large areas and made trial cuttings elsewhere, as, of course, it was not feasible to attempt the investigation of the whole of such a large area. Site c [LI048-034047-] - More than one house existed at this site but for convenience they are dealt with under one title and they are differentiated from House b [LI048-034046-] which to some extent was situated on the same site. The main house found on Site c was built in part directly over House b. Towards the eastern end of the latter house, and running parallel to its eastern wall, but built upon the silt which filled to the top the space between its walls, ran one of the walls of this house. The walls were incomplete - there were no remains of the northern side and on the plan the outline of the house is suggested by a dotted line the position of which is based on the remains of the three other walls - the outline so obtained being that of a rectangular house approximately 18 feet [5.5m] by 14 feet [4.26m]. That other houses had existed at Site b was shown by some light charcoal bands, which are represented on the plan but which were not sufficiently definite or complete to give the plan of any one house'. See attached plans of excavated house taken from Ó Ríordáin 1940. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 December 2021

• LI048-034048 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). House site d in S quadrant of rectangular enclosure (LI048-034042-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 115-18) who described his results as follows; 'The area which we have termed the Enclosure [LI048-034042-) is that part of the Southern Group which has on three sides of it a bank and fosse, and on the fourth side the group of conjoined ring-forts (LI048-034027/028-/016-). The northern and western sides of the Enclosure are defended by a slight outer bank in addition to the fosse and inner bank. In the investigation of the interior we stripped several comparatively large areas and made trial cuttings elsewhere, as, of course, it was not feasible to attempt the investigation of the whole of such a large area. House d - At the site marked d we found a post-hole house irregular in outline. It was approached from the westward by a narrow sunken way, less than 2 feet [0.6m] wide at its narrowest, hollowed to a depth of about 6 inches [0.15m] out of the boulder clay, and edged along part of its course by a setting of stones. This "hollow-way" widened out at its upper (eastern) end to enclose the whole house site, which was similarly sunken, and terminated against the bank which crossed the Enclosure. The house was of approximately rectangular plan, with an irregular partition running through the middle. The post-holes of this partition were shallow (only a few inches in depth) while the average depth of the main post-holes of the house was about 9 inches [0.22m]'. See attached plans of excavated house taken from Ó Ríordáin 1940. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 December 2021

• LI048-034049 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). House site e in S quadrant of rectangular enclosure (LI048-034042-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 115-18) who described his results as follows; 'The area which we have termed the Enclosure [LI048-034042-) is that part of the Southern Group which has on three sides of it a bank and fosse, and on the fourth side the group of conjoined ring-forts (LI048-034027/028-/016-). The northern and western sides of the Enclosure are defended by a slight outer bank in addition to the fosse and inner bank. In the investigation of the interior we stripped several comparatively large areas and made trial cuttings elsewhere, as, of course, it was not feasible to attempt the investigation of the whole of such a large area. Site e - Here on the western side of Fort 6 [LI048-034041-] we cleared a considerable area in the hope of getting house sites. That houses had existed there was testified in places by the bands of charcoal representing the house-walls, but, though we exercised every possible care, we found that no definite house-plan could be recovered'. See attached plan of possible excavated house site taken from Ó Ríordáin 1940. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 December 2021

• LI048-035 Earthwork
  Description

  In reclaimed pasture, 180m S of townland boundary with Ballinvreena. Depicted on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map as a raised circular-shaped platform defined by a scarp. Shown on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a raised circular-shaped area (dims. c. 24m NW-SE; 29m NE-SW) defined by a scarp with fosse from S-W-NW. Annotated ‘Cois Mote’ on the Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map. Monument visible as shown on the historic OSi maps on the Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and Google Earth orthoimages. The tree lined relic post-1700 field boundaries at SE-E-NE visible on aerial images may represent an external bank. See attached Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 23 August 2021

• LI048-039 Standing stone - pair
  Description

  In rough pasture, at the edge of a conifer plantation, 335m E of an archaeological complex (LI048-034001-/043-). Annotated ‘Geata báin (Pillar Stones)' on the Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map. Ó Ríordáin (1940, 88-9) described the site as follows; ‘About 1100 feet [335m OD] east of this group [LI048-034001/043-] there are marked on the map under the title Geata Báin (Pillar Stones) two pillar stones “like a gate leading into nothing”.’ On examination these were found to stand on the side of what was evidently an old road which is now a water-worn channel. channel. Along the lower side of this road ran a fence formed in large part of stones on end, giving it an appearance which might be described as megalithic, those known as the Geata Bain being merely more conspicuous examples. At first I felt inclined to think that this road was an ancient one but I learned-locally that it was in use about ninety years ago as a passage for drawing turf from the mountain-top and had evidently been constructed about that time. If it had been made much earlier it would then have been almost as water-worn as now and would not have been passable as a road. Similar paths lead to the mountain top from other sides of Slieve Reagh’. According to Westropp (1918, 119); 'On the mount up the hill was "Dodera's grave, not far from the peak," possibly at the two stones of Gatabaun'. Possible stone pair listed by Grogan (1989, Vol. 2, 269) as 'Cush 1'. No visible remains on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 7 September 2021

Architectural heritage

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

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 Cush, about 1 in 20 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 high, 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 Cush.

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 Cush with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Limerick.

Name

Cush · An Chois

Area

3,238,172 m² (323.82 ha, 800.17 acres)

Civil parish

Emlygrennan, and its townlands

Barony

Coshlea

Electoral division

Emlygrennan, the unit of the census

Census 2022

850 people lived in 300 households in the Emlygrennan electoral division. 88% of households owned their home. 33% of homes were built since 2001. 7% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 3% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Balline, Ballinvreena, Ballinvreena, Bosnetstown, Darranstown, Kilmurry, Martinstown, Moorestown

Placenames

Cush 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.