HER:  Archaeological Survey of Ireland SMR Database LI059A001 (None)
NMR:  LI 059 (None)
SM:  None
NGR:  None
X:  572098  Y:  616007  (IRENET95)
In commanding position at the summit of Carrig Henry, positioned on a natural triangular promontory in the Ballyhoura Hills. The site affords extensive views of the Limerick plains to the N and the Blackwater valley to the S. Two closely spaced earth and stone banks cut off the S, most accessible approach. The hillfort has a total site foot print of 1.6ha. A single entrance, consisting of corresponding breaks in the inner and outer enclosing elements is located at the midway along the banks on the S. A possible earthen bank to the N, beyond the cliff face, has been identified by Doody (2008, 540). This has a possible original entrance at its centre. A stone cairn at the highest point within the hillfort is said to be the remains of a Post-Medieval tower (Doody 2008, 541). No other evidence for internal features on the surface. Interior under scrub and bracken growth and commercial forestry plantation surrounds the hillfort at the N, E and W. Topographical survey by Doody (2008, 540 - 541). Hillfort not identified in any historic mapping.
Citizen Science:  ✗
Reliability of Data:  Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation:  Confirmed
X:  -936090  Y:  6853645  (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude:  -8.409041003775076  Latitude:  52.295015083117526  (EPSG:4326)
Country:  Republic of Ireland
Current County or Unitary Authority:  Limerick
Historic County:  Limerick
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland:  Castle Gale
None
Extant   | ✓ |
Cropmark   | ✗ |
Likely Destroyed   | ✗ |
Commercial woodland surrounds the hillfort at the N, E and W. Interior under scrub and bracken growth.
Woodland   | ✗ |
Commercial Forestry Plantation   | ✗ |
Parkland   | ✗ |
Pasture (Grazing)   | ✗ |
Arable   | ✗ |
Scrub/Bracken   | ✓ |
Bare Outcrop   | ✗ |
Heather/Moorland   | ✗ |
Heath   | ✗ |
Built-up   | ✗ |
Coastal Grassland   | ✗ |
Other   | ✗ |
Inland promontory fort positioned on the Cork/Limerick border in the Ballyhoura Hills. Situated on the summit of Carrig Henry, a natural promontory protected at the N, E and W by cliff face and to the S by two closely spaced banks of stone. Extensive views of the Limerick plains to the N and the Blackwater valley to the S.
Contour Fort   | ✗ |
Partial Contour Fort   | ✗ |
Promontory Fort   | ✓ |
Hillslope Fort   | ✗ |
Level Terrain Fort   | ✗ |
Marsh Fort   | ✗ |
Multiple Enclosure Fort   | ✗ |
Hilltop   | ✗ |
Coastal Promontory   | ✗ |
Inland Promontory   | ✓ |
Valley Bottom   | ✗ |
Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop   | ✗ |
Ridge   | ✗ |
Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp   | ✗ |
Hillslope   | ✗ |
Lowland   | ✗ |
Spur   | ✗ |
Dominant Topographic Feature:  Hilltop/promontory.
North   | ✗ |
Northeast   | ✗ |
East   | ✗ |
Southeast   | ✗ |
South   | ✗ |
Southwest   | ✗ |
West   | ✗ |
Northwest   | ✗ |
Level   | ✓ |
Altitude:  302.0m
N/A
No dating evidence.
Reliability:  D - None
Pre 1200BC   | ✗ |
1200BC - 800BC   | ✗ |
800BC - 400BC   | ✗ |
400BC - AD50   | ✗ |
AD50 - AD400   | ✗ |
AD400 - AD 800   | ✗ |
Post AD800   | ✗ |
Unknown   | ✓ |
Pre Hillfort:   | None |
Post Hillfort:   | A stone cairn at the highest point within the hillfort is said to be the remains of a Post-Medieval tower (Doody 2008, 541). |
Earthwork survey by Doody (2008). Not identified in any historic mapping.
Other (1998):   | Visited by Hillfort Study Group |
Earthwork Survey (None):   | Doody (2008, 540 - 541). |
A stone cairn at the highest point within the hillfort is said to be the remains of a Post-Medieval tower (Doody 2008, 541). No other evidence for internal features on the surface.
None
None   | ✓ |
Spring   | ✗ |
Stream   | ✗ |
Pool   | ✗ |
Flush   | ✗ |
Well   | ✗ |
Other   | ✗ |
Cairn
No Known Features   | ✗ |
Round Stone Structures   | ✗ |
Rectangular Stone Structures   | ✗ |
Curvilinear Platforms   | ✗ |
Other Roundhouse Evidence   | ✗ |
Pits   | ✗ |
Quarry Hollows   | ✗ |
Other   | ✓ |
None
No Known Excavation   | ✓ |
Pits   | ✗ |
Postholes   | ✗ |
Roundhouses   | ✗ |
Rectangular Structures   | ✗ |
Roads/Tracks   | ✗ |
Quarry Hollows   | ✗ |
Other   | ✗ |
Nothing Found   | ✗ |
None
No Known Geophysics   | ✓ |
Pits   | ✗ |
Roundhouses   | ✗ |
Rectangular Structures   | ✗ |
Roads/Tracks   | ✗ |
Quarry Hollows   | ✗ |
Other   | ✗ |
Nothing Found   | ✗ |
None
No Known Finds   | ✓ |
Pottery   | ✗ |
Metal   | ✗ |
Metalworking   | ✗ |
Human Bones   | ✗ |
Animal Bones   | ✗ |
Lithics   | ✗ |
Environmental   | ✗ |
Other   | ✗ |
NO APPARENT FEATURES
APs Not Checked   | ✗ |
None   | ✓ |
Roundhouses   | ✗ |
Rectangular Structures   | ✗ |
Pits   | ✗ |
Postholes   | ✗ |
Roads/Tracks   | ✗ |
Other   | ✗ |
Two corresponding breaks in inner and outer enclosing elements to S. This comprises a simple staggered break at the center of the enclosing features, 4m wide at the outer banks and 9m wide at the inner bank (Doody 2008, 541). A large upright slab flanks the E side of entrance in the inner enclosing element. Entrance in possible enclosing feature to N comprising a simple gap 6m in width at the center of the bank.
2:   | None |
2:   | None |
Guard Chambers:  ✗
Chevaux de Frise:  ✗
1. Simple Gap (South):   | Break in inner enclosing element to S. |
1. Simple Gap (South):   | Break in outer enclosing element to S. |
2. Simple Gap (North):   | Break in possible enclosing element to N. |
Triangular area defined at the S by a set of closely spaced earthen banks and an intervening ditch. Width of inner bank varies from 6 - 12m. Average width of outer bank varies from 4- 7m. Depth of ditch from top of bank to bottom of ditch is 4m in places. Banks faced in places. Possible enclosing elements to N comprise an earthen bank approximately 5.8m wide and 1.7m high (Doody 2008, 541). For plan of site see Doody (2008, 541).
Area 1:   | 1.24ha. |
Total:   | 1.24ha. |
Total Footprint Area:  1.6ha.
None
✗   | None |
✗   | None |
NE Quadrant:   | 1 |
SE Quadrant:   | 2 |
SW Quadrant:   | 2 |
NW Quadrant:   | 1 |
Total:   | 2 |
Partial Univallate   | ✓ |
Univallate   | ✗ |
Partial Bivallate   | ✓ |
Bivallate   | ✗ |
Partial Multivallate   | ✗ |
Multivallate   | ✗ |
Unknown   | ✗ |
Partial Univallate   | ✗ |
Univallate   | ✗ |
Partial Bivallate   | ✗ |
Bivallate   | ✗ |
Partial Multivallate   | ✗ |
Multivallate   | ✗ |
Earthen bank with facing in places.
None   | ✗ |
Earthen Bank   | ✓ |
Stone Wall   | ✓ |
Rubble   | ✗ |
Wall-walk   | ✗ |
Evidence of Timber   | ✗ |
Vitrification   | ✗ |
Other Burning   | ✗ |
Palisade   | ✗ |
Counter Scarp Bank   | ✗ |
Berm   | ✗ |
Unfinished   | ✗ |
Other   | ✗ |
None
None   | ✗ |
Earthen Bank   | ✗ |
Stone Wall   | ✗ |
Murus Duplex   | ✗ |
Timber-framed   | ✗ |
Timber-laced   | ✗ |
Vitrification   | ✗ |
Other Burning   | ✗ |
Palisade   | ✗ |
Counter Scarp Bank   | ✗ |
Berm   | ✗ |
Unfinished   | ✗ |
No Known Excavation   | ✓ |
Other   | ✗ |
✗   | None |
✓   | None |
Number of Ditches:  1
✗   | None. |
Doody, M. 2008. The Ballyhoura Hills Project. Wordwell, Dublin.
Atlas of Hillforts:
Wikidata:
This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and should be cited as:
Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk
Document Version 1.1