Barnacahoge Cashel

Prominently located on the top of a knoll, at the N end of a N−S ridge, flanked by stream valleys, which merge at NW with another valley. The location provides good views into the valleys and over the surrounding sharply undulating landscape of small, stone-walled fields of rough, stony pasture. Much of the surrounding lands have been converted to forestry.

This cashel is a National Monument (no. 561) in state ownership. It is consists of a circular area (26m N−S; c. 25m E−W) enclosed by a massive drystone wall (Wth 2m). The interior encompasses the entire flat top of the knoll, and there is a steep fall of ground immediately outside the enclosing walls at W, N and E.

The exterior wall face is constructed of large, roughly rectangular limestone blocks, with massive blocks in the basal courses. It is best preserved on the E half, surviving to a height of 1.6m, rising to 2m at S. At E a pronounced batter is evident, compensating for the steep natural slope, but at S, where the slope is more gradual, the wall face is vertical. The wall is lower and less well preserved on the W half. It is partly collapsed at SW−WSW, with evidence of relatively recent rebuilding (H 0.6-0.8m), and at WNW−N only the basal courses (H 0.4m) remain in situ.

The internal wall face is intact at NE (H 1m), and for short lengths at E and SE, but for most of the circuit it has collapsed to a slumped jumble of stones.

The enclosing wall expands to a thickness of 3m at SE, where it is pierced by an entrance passage (Wth 1.3m exterior), which narrows toward the interior (Wth1.15m). The passage is flanked by massive stone blocks. It is unroofed, but a large slab (L2.4m; Wth 0.9m; T 0.22m), lying on the ground immediately outside the entrance, is likely to be a displaced roofing lintel. The entrance faces the spine of the ridge, leading to a more gradual slope at SE, which provides a natural access route.

The interior is strewn with loose stone. In the centre there is a square structure of rough drystone construction. This appears originally to have measured c. 2m by 2m, with a height of c. 1m, but is now partly collapsed and spreads over an area of diameter c. 3m. It is of uncertain function, and appears to be of relatively recent date. It may be one of the features described as possible houses (MA072-063002-), which according a local source, were noted in the interior. The cashel is known in local tradition as 'Caiseal Claine Meirg'.