Souterrain, Ballydaly, Co. Cork

Co. Cork |

Settlement Sites

Souterrain, Ballydaly, Co. Cork

Beneath a field in Ballydaly, mid Cork, there is a room that no one has seen in living memory.

It is a souterrain, an underground stone-lined passage or chamber built during the early medieval period, typically beneath or alongside a ringfort, and used variously for storage, refuge, or ventilation of living quarters above. What makes this particular example quietly compelling is the fact that it leaves no visible mark on the surface whatsoever. The ground gives nothing away.

The structure sits within a ringfort, one of the thousands of roughly circular earthen enclosures that once served as farmsteads across early medieval Ireland. A researcher named Broker noted its existence in 1937, describing it simply as an underground chamber, and that spare reference is very nearly all that is known. No excavation appears to have followed, no further detail was recorded, and the land above has closed over whatever lies beneath.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Souterrain, Ballydaly, Co. Cork. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement