Cahergrillaun
Cahergrillaun is a townland in the civil parish of Carran, barony of Burren, Co. Clare.
Parcel 1476750
- Area
- 146,446 m² (14.64 ha, 36.19 acres)
- Buildings
- No building touches it.
- Zoning
- No zone of a development plan covers it in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply.
- Townland
- Cahergrillaun
Planning applications on this parcel
No planning application touches this parcel in the national file, which goes back to 2010.
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Designated sites
No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches this parcel.
Recorded monuments around it
This parcel is in the zone of notification of 123 recorded monuments.
- CL005-160001 Field system
Description
An extensive field system (c. 4km NW-SE; c. 2.2km SW-NE) on the uplands immediately W of the Carran Valley and stretching from Poulbaun at N to Rannagh West at S. The field system is visible on OS Aerial Premium (2012-2018) as series of meandering walls associated with the many cashels, enclosures and hut sites and wedge tombs that lie within. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 18 August 2021
- CL005-160002 Ringfort - cashel
Description
In rough elevated pasture with clear views in all directions, centrally placed within an oval enclosure (CL005-306----) that forms part of a broader field system (CL005-160001-). Hachured the 1839 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps. Called ‘Caher-Poulgrom’ by Westropp (1911, 357), and described as a ‘ring-wall of good masonry, over 9 feet thick’ (1899, 374). Westropp noted that the walls exhibited variable thickness and masonry style, suggesting that ‘built in two sections, the outer six feet thick with two faces; the inner (perhaps a terrace) three feet wide’ (1911, 358). A subcircular cashel (41m N-S; 36.7m E-W) defined by a drystone wall (Wth 1.8-2.4m; H 0.6-1.7m), tallest to the N, decreasing in height to the S. The inner wall-face has collapsed in places with a fallen stone around the perimeter. The location of the original entrance is unclear, but there is a modern entrance gap to the E. The interior is bisected by a drystone wall (0.8-1m) aligned E-W, with an attached sheep fold. The grass-covered foundation of a house (CL005-160040-) is located in the SE quadrant. A cashel (CL005-160003-) lies c. 50m to the NE. The following image has been uploaded: CL005-160002-_01.jpg Aerial view from NW (photo: Archaeological Survey of Ireland) Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 22 August 2023
- CL005-160003 Ringfort - cashel
Description
In rough elevated pasture on a narrow ridge aligned N-S flanked by deep hollows to the E and W, with extensive views. Within an extensive field system (CL005-160001-) and immediately adjacent to an oval enclosure (CL005-306----) within which is a subcircular cashel (CL005-160002-). Indicated on the 1839 OS 6-inch map. Hachured on the 1916 OS 6-inch map. Listed as a ‘rectangular enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). Described by Westropp (1911, 358) as a ‘remarkable straight sided “moher” … built of long slabs’. Westropp noted that, in contrast to other straight sided cashels, the corners were angled, potentially indicating a later date. A rectangular cashel (33m N-S; 29m E-W) defined by a grass-covered stone spread (Wth 2.5-5m; H 0.5-1.6m) with wall-facing evident on all external faces, and in the interior to the N and E. The original width of the wall is legible at the E (1.7m) and the N (2.7m). The original position of the entrance is unclear, but it may have been in the S wall. The interior has grass-covered divisions which form part of a later field system. The walls of the cashel are surmounted by more recent drystone walling on the N, E and S sides. A farm track flanks the E of the monument, truncating its NE corner. An oval enclosure (CL005-308----) abuts the cashel at SE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 22 August 2022
- CL005-160004 Ringfort - cashel
Description
In rough elevated pasture on a S-facing ridge with sharply falling ground to the S and E, and commanding views from E to SW. Within a large field system (CL005-160001-). Indicated only on the 1916 OS 6-inch map as an enclosure. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). A suboval cashel (33m N-S; 25m E-W) defined by a poorly preserved stone wall (Wth 2m; H 1.5-2m), that has collapsed to form a spread to the NE (Wth 1.8-2.8m) and W (Wth 4m). A stretch of inner facing is present at the E (L 4m; H 0.6m). Outer facing survives intermittently from SSE to W (H 0.5-1.5m). The position of the entrance is unclear. The interior (24m N-S; 19m E-W) slopes down to the S. A large natural depression is present in the NE quadrant. A recent drystone wall overlies the cashel wall to the N. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 22 August 2023
- CL005-160005 Enclosure
Description
Situated on a slightly raised area in rocky grassland with good views in all directions. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996). On inspection in 1999 this was found to be a circular enclosure (28m N-S; 30m E-W) defined by a loosely built wall comprising irregular limestone blocks and apparently of modern construction. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 2 February 2016
- CL005-160006 Ringfort - cashel
Description
In rough elevated S-facing pasture on a small limestone platform (H 2-2.5m) with falling ground to the NW and S and commanding views to NW. Within a large field system (CL005-160001-). Hachured and labelled ‘Garracloon Caher’ on the 1839 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps. Westropp (1911, 355) recorded the ‘slight remains’ of the monument, noting its prominent position. A subcircular cashel (26m N-S; 30m E-W) defined by a partially collapsed stone wall (Wth 1.15m; int. 0.8-1.2m; ext. H 0.6-1.7m). The external stone facing survives in part from NNE to E (H 0.6-1m), and a portion of inner wall-facing survives at the S (H 0.8m) and NNE (H 1.2m). The location of the entrance is unclear and the interior is uneven. Some stones set within the SE quadrant may represent the remnants of an internal feature. A drystone field wall is built over the cashel wall from SE to SW. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 22 August 2023
- CL005-160008 Ringfort - cashel
Description
On a rocky spur in low-lying scrub with areas of cleared pasture to E and W, overlooked by higher ground on all sides with restricted views. Within a field system (CL005-160001-). Hachured on the 1839 OS 6-inch map. The site was noted by Westropp (1899, 373) ‘a small ring-wall lies on a projecting spur; its walls much gapped, and it only contains a modern sheep-fold’. A subcircular cashel (int. 22m N-S; 21m E-W) defined by a heavily overgrown stone wall (H 0.8-1.9m; Wth c. 2m) only the outer face of which is visible. No inner wall-facing survives. The wall is composed of roughly coursed masonry with very large blocks present towards the base. The location of the entrance is unclear. The interior is flat and covered in blackthorn bushes. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 22 August 2023
- CL005-160009 Enclosure
Description
In elevated rocky pasture within with commanding views from E to N. Within a field system (CL005-160001-). Indicated on the 1916 OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). A subcircular drystone enclosure (28m N-S; 24m E-W) with a flat interior and no visible entrance. A house site (CL005-309----) occupies the centre of the enclosure. A cashel (CL005-160015-) is located c. 80m to the ENE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 22 August 2023
- CL005-160010 Ringfort - cashel
Description
In elevated rocky pasture with clear views over lower ground to SW and W. Within an extensive field system (CL005-160001-). Hachured on the 1840 OS 6-inch map and indicated as an enclosure on the 1916 edition. Listed as a rectangular enclosure in the RMP (1996). A rectangular cashel (30.7m E-W; 29.7m N-S) defined by a battered stone wall (Wth 0.9-1.2m; int. H 1-1.9m; ext. H 1.5-2.35m). The wall is highest at the NW reducing in height toward the SE. A gap (Wth 1.2m) at the N end of the E wall is probably the original entrance and there is a cattle gap in the S wall. The interior (28m E-W; 26m N-S) is uneven. A recent drystone animal pen abuts the interior of the N wall. A souterrain (CL005-160041-) is located close to the centre of the monument. A cashel (CL005-160015-) is located c. 95m to the SE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 23 September 2025
- CL005-160011 Cross
Description
In improved stony pasture immediately SE of a dwelling and farmyard and within an extensive field system (CL005-160001-). This is the original location of one of two crosses named on the 1916 OS 6-inch map (see also CL005-160013-). Westropp (1899, 373) noted the crosses as follows: ‘in Ballymihil, is a craggy field, set with upraised slabs, small stone "piers," and heaps; a slab, rudely shaped like a cross, is set in one wall; another rude cross, of greater size, lies southward down the slope’. On inspection in 1998 neither of the crosses was visible. The cross ‘set in one wall’ as noted by Westropp was possibly located at an adjacent mass rock (CL005-160042-) named simply ‘Monument’ on the OS 1842 6-inch map. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 23 September 2025
And 113 more.
Architectural heritage
No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.
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).
Ground and risks
- Radon
- At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately low, low, partly inferred.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of this parcel.
- 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.
Download this parcel as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program. GeoJSON, in WGS 84, suits a map, and KML opens in Google Earth.
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.
- Area
- 36.5 ha
- 90 acres
- Land parcels
- 2
- registered freehold, median 182,107 m² (18.21 ha, 45 acres)
- Zoning
- —
- not in a zoned settlement
- Planning
- 0
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
2 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Cahergrillaun, from 146,446 m² (14.64 ha, 36.19 acres) to 217,767 m² (21.78 ha, 53.81 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 12 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.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
No zone of a development plan covers Cahergrillaun 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.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
No planning application touches the townland of Cahergrillaun in the national file, which goes back to 2010.
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Nature and heritage
Designated sites and recorded monuments
Designated sites
- Special Area of Conservation: Moneen Mountain SAC 000054
- Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Moneen Mountain 000054
Recorded monuments
- CL009-044 Barrow - ring-barrow
Description
On a slight rise in the centre of Eanty Valley, at the E edge of a wide shallow ravine, with wide views all around. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). This well-preserved ring-barrow (26.8m N–S; 26.3m E–W) is defined by a circular flat-topped central mound (H 0.8–1.1m; diam. at base 10.5m N–S; 9.9m E–W; diam. at top 4.9m N–S; 4.8m E–W) surrounded by a well-rounded fosse (Wth of base 2.4–3.4m; ext. D 0.8–1.1m) with a rounded external bank (Wth at base 5.2–5.4m; With at top 0.7–2.5m; ext. H 0.5–0.8). However, at S–WNW the bank has largely eroded into the adjacent ravine. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 25 January 2022
- CL009-053004 Ringfort - cashel
Description
At the W edge of a karst plateau in rough pasture within a large multiperiod field system (CL005-160001-), the land falls very steeply c. 45m to the W. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map, named ‘Cahergrillaun’ on the latter ed. and ‘Cathair Ghrealláin’ on Robinson’s map (1977). This well-preserved subcircular cashel (c. 40m NW–SE; 36m NE–SW) is defined by a high double-faced stone wall (Wth 2.6–4m; ext. H 1.3–c. 4m), which has undoubtedly been rebuilt especially from E to SE. There is a distinct batter to the outer wall-face, in which the stones are laid horizontally, the lower ones are generally large (L c. 1m; H 0.4m) and the upper one, which are probably later, are smaller. The inner wall-face is traceable around most of the circuit, a step or terrace (Wth and H 0.3–0.6m) at the top is probably related to a modern re-build. Westropp (1898, 365) noted at least one flight of five steps at the W of this ‘plinth or very narrow terrace’, leading to a ‘platform’. The entrance (Wth 2.5m; min. L 2.6m; H 1.2m) is at the SE. Westropp (ibid.) described the sides of its passageway as parallel and composed of massive stretchers. He suggested that roofing such a wide entrance would have required the use of wooden beams. He observed external house foundations and enclosures abutting the cashel at the N and S (ibid., 364). These were not visible during a field inspection in 1998 nor was there any trace of the possible souterrain (CL009-053015-) or possible hut site (CL009-053-16-) within its interior (SMR file). Other cashels lie c. 232m to the SSW (CL009-054----) and c. 245m to the NE (CL009-053010-). The following images have been uploaded: CL009-035004- View of external wall-face of cashel (Westropp 1898, 364).jpg CL009-053004- View from SE.jpg Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 28 January 2022
- CL009-053015 Souterrain
Description
This record relates to a souterrain listed in the RMP (1996). It was noted on an annotated copy of an SMR map (1992) as being within 'Cahergrillaun' cashel (CL009-053004-) (SMR file). On field inspection of the cashel in October 1998, no visible surface trace of it was evident. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 3 February 2022
- CL009-053016 Hut site
Description
This record relates to a hut site listed in the RMP (1996). It was noted on an annotated copy of an SMR map (1992) as being within 'Cahergrillaun' cashel (CL009-053004-) (SMR file). On field inspection of the cashel in October 1998, no visible surface trace of it was evident. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 3 February 2022
- CL009-058 Ringfort - cashel
Description
On a knoll near the top of a W-facing slope in pasture at the E side of Eanty Valley. The land falls away to the W and N. Indicated on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). This subcircular cashel (int. dims. 17.2m E–W; 16.5m N–S) is defined by the remains of a double-faced stone wall (Wth c. 1.5–2.5m; H c. 0.3m). The interior slopes from NW to SE. There is a souterrain (CL009-058002-) just N of the centre of the interior. A small earthen mound (H 0.2m) is visible to its S. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 1 March 2022
- CL009-058002 Souterrain
Description
Situated in the N half of the interior of a cashel (CL009-058----), this collapsed souterrain (L c. 6m E–W) comprises a rough passage (L 3m; Wth 1.2m; D 0.5m) at W, narrowing (Wth 0.8m) into a creep in the centre, which leads to a chamber (L 2.4m; upper Wth 2.5m) at E. Some of the original walling, now moss-covered, survives in situ in the E half of the chamber. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 3 February 2022
Architectural heritage
No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Cahergrillaun.
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).
Ground and risks
Radon, landslides, flooding
- Radon
- At the centre of the townland of Cahergrillaun, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Cahergrillaun.
- 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.
Homes sold
Property Price Register
No address of the register names Cahergrillaun with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Clare.
The townland
- Name
- Cahergrillaun
- Area
- 364,981 m² (36.5 ha, 90.19 acres)
- Civil parish
- Carran, and its townlands
- Barony
- Burren
- Electoral division
- Castletown, the unit of the census
- Neighbouring townlands
- Cahermackirilla, Commons, Meggagh East, Meggagh West, Moheramoylan, Poulcaragharush, Rannagh West, Sladoo
- Placenames
- Cahergrillaun 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.