The Archaeological Heritage of Co. supported by The Heritage Council

The Archaeological Heritage of is going to be the 8th addition to the Heritage of County Cork Publication Series. It is hoped that this book will be published along with The Colourful Heritage of County Cork come November of this year.

The following document gives you an insight into the types of various different sites which are currently being considered for inclusion in the upcoming publication. A brief description accompanies the majority of the included photographs to give an idea of the history associated with the site itself. From stone circles to forts, holy wells and standing stones, our County really has an abundance of heritage on offer!

Drombeg Stone Circle

Drombeg Stone Circle is located c. 2.3km east of Glandore village and is surrounded by a green field filled landscape. The site not only contains a stone circle but also consists of a hut site and fulacht fia. The stone circle itself was excavated in the 1900’s, when five pits were discovered beneath the ground, one of which contained some human bone remains, shale fragments and shards of coarse fabric pots. A horseshoe shaped dry stone enclosing bank, a slab-lined cooking pit, a u-shaped hearth and a well with an associated overflow drainage channel were some of the other features exposed following the excavation of the site.

Figure 1: Drombeg Stone Circle. Image Captured By: Enda O’Flaherty.

Figure 1: Fulacht Fia at Drombeg. Image Captured By: Enda O’Flaherty

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Kealkill Stone Circle

Kealkill Stone Circle is located in the picturesque, hilly region which overlooks Kealkill village to the west. This setting is quite dramatic in the sense that it almost has a 360 panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, with the Shehy Mountains located to the North and East. This site is special as it presents three different monuments in the one, as we can see from Figure 2 below; a five stone circle as well as a stone pair and a radial stone cairn are among the features exhibited.

Figure 2: Keakill Stone Circle, Stone Pair and Stone Cairn. Image Captured By: Áine Brosnan.

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Camden Fort Meagher

Camden Fort Meagher contains fortifications which date back as far as 1550 with some additional fortifications erected in 1600. In the late 1600’s, the fort was invaded and was put under attack. The fort was later remodeled with extra defenses being incorporated in 1799 following the transfer of the naval establishment from to as a form of protection. Camden Fort was also briefly used as a prison in the early 1800’s and underwent big reconstruction in 1861. The ‘Brennan Torpedo’ which has been classified as the world’s first practical guided missile was fitted in only eight locations worldwide, Camden Fort being one of those eight. acquired the fortification in 1989 with the intention of turning it into a major tourist attraction, however the fort became overgrown and fell into dereliction over the following twenty one years. Finally in 2010, together with the help of Cork County Council along with the community in , a big clean up and restoration works began and a ‘Rescue Camden’ committee had been formed. In 2013, the fortification was officially renamed Camden Fort Meagher as this year marked the 75th anniversary of the handover of the fort to the Irish authorities. There are several buildings present on site including barracks, workshops, offices, a sports centre, an officer’s house, officer’s mess and batteries. Unfortunately due to the ongoing pandemic and in line with public health guidance, Camden Fort Meagher will remain closed for the remainder of 2020 and will re-open in May 2021.

Figure 3: Aerial Photo of Camden Fort Meagher. Image Captured By: Siobhán Russell.

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Seisear Standing Stones / Beenalaght Stone Row

Seisear Standing Stones / Beenalaght Stone Row consists of six stones, which is of huge significance as this is very rare to find. Local legend suggests that these stones marked the burial sites of the six chieftains. However, stone rows don’t normally mark burial grounds, and it has also been suggested that this alignment indicated a calendar of sunrises/sunsets at particular dates for farming purposes.

Figure 4: Beenalaght Stone Row. Image Captured By: Donie O’Sullivan.

Buttevant Abbey

Buttevant Abbey is located along the main street of Buttevant town, to the west of the River Awbeg. The interior of this rectangular ruin has been used for burials, and withholds burials which date from the 18th, 19th and 20th century. The ornate cruciform church was constructed using course limestone ashlar and topped with an embattled parapet and hood moulded windows.

Figure 5: Buttevant Abbey. Image Captured By: Sheila Fitzgerald.

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St. Johns Well

St. Johns Well, officially known as ‘Mushera Holy Well’ is located near the summit of Mountain. This well is visited by many each year and in particular on June 24th as Saint John’s Feast Day is celebrated on this date. It is thought that this well water would result in the healing of warts.

Figure 6: St. Johns Well. Image Captured By: Tricia O’Rourke.

Lissaniska Ringfort Lissaniska Ringfort consisted of three substantial circular rampards with deep trenches between them. According to local legend, these deep trenches acted as which were fed by a tap into the nearby, Glengarriff Stream, hence the name Lissaniska or ‘The fort of the water’. The photo below portrays the defined circular shape which still exists on site. Two souterrains can also be found within the fort.

Figure 7: Lissaniska Ringfort. Image Captured By: Donie O’Sullivan.

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Maughanasilly Stone Row

Located on the slopes of Knockbrateenhill, c. 2km north-west of Kealkill village, this site has astounding views as it overlooks Toureen Lake. Excavations carried out in the late 1970s recovered a thumb- shaped flint scraper. Following the carbon-14 dating of basal peat, the date of 1678-1438 BC was retrieved. This five stone row has been observed to be aligned with the Winter Solstice sunset.

Figure 8: Maughanasilly Stone Row. Image Captured By: Áine Brosnan.

Ballingeary Clapper Bridge

Ballingeary Clapper Bridge is made up of eighteen slabs which are resting on stone piers. Below the clapper bridge, to the south is a footpath which is partially paved and leads to the other clapper bridge which is situated over the main channel of the Lee River.

Figure 9: Ballingeary Clapper Bridge. Image Captured By: James Buckley.

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Meenachoney Standing Stones

The first pair of these standing stones are located on pasture on the south eastern slopes of Uctough Hill, these stones are c. 1.6m apart. The second of these pairs of stones are situated to the north east of the first pair and the final, single, standing stone which is located to the south east of the first set of stones and north east of the second pair of stones is oval in shape. These sets of stones make up what is known as Meenachoney Standing Stones.

Figure 10: Meenachoney Standing Stones. Image Captured By: Gerard O’Rourke.

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Stone Alignment, Glandine

The Stone Alignment at Glandine is located on a steep, north-east facing slope which is situated about a tributary leading into the Cummeen Stream. The stones stand c. 5.15m apart from one another and have an overall length of c. 6.5m.

Figure 11: Glandine Stone Alignment. Image Captured By: Jim Quinn.

Kilcrohane Marriage Stone

Kilcrohane Marriage Stone lies to the eastern side of a now, ‘hard to define’ ringfort, is fallen and a partially embedded slab with a circular hole of a diameter of c. 0.14m. The stone is traditionally a site where young people used to go to plight their troth, joining their hands through the hole in the stone.

Figure 12: Kilcrohane Marriage Stone. Image Captured By: Charlie McCarthy.

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Templebreedy Church and Graveyard

This Church dates back to c. 1800 and is sited on a hill which overlooks the sea and the surrounding scenic landscape. It is situated within a graveyard and its limestone boundary walls remain in ruin.

Figure 13: Templebreedy Church and Graveyard. Image Captured By: Siobhán Russell.

Kiskeam Ogham Stones

Figure 14: Kiskeam Ogham Stones. Image Captured By: Sheila Fitzgerald.

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Inchinelinane Standing Stone

Figure 15: Inchinelinane Stone. Image Captured By: Bernice Corcoran.

Dromagh Castle

Figure 16: Dromagh Castle. Image Captured By: Sheila Fitzgerald.

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The sites shown above are just a few of the ones being taken into consideration for inclusion in The Archaeological Heritage of County Cork. Image after image was sent in by numerous members of the public for potential inclusion in the book. Not only does the finished product act as a very valuable resource to people of many ages, but the interaction with the public prior to production as well as the planning process of the book engages so many people and therefore increases our appreciation and mindfulness around heritage as well as nature and what is regarded as a valuable asset.

From Ogham Stones such as those shown in Figure 14 to extraordinary, historic castles such as that displayed in Figure 16 as well as various Stone Alignments and Standing Stones, for example that shown in Figure 15 are some, to name a few of the possible sites which are being deliberated and considered as possible featured sites for the book. The County of Cork has a wealth of heritage which is spread all over, right up to the County boundary! Therefore, limiting this to a particular number for inclusion is without a doubt, challenging!

Cork County Council would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who has taken the time to assist us in the preparation of both of Cork County Council’s upcoming publications whether this was through the submission of an informative piece of writing or the forwarding of some admirable photographs. Each and every material piece which was sent into us here in Cork County Council is greatly appreciated.

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