Enclosure, Formoyle, Co. Clare

Co. Clare |

Enclosures

Enclosure, Formoyle, Co. Clare

On the northern slopes of Slieve Elva in County Clare, aerial photography has revealed a circular earthwork that would be easy to overlook entirely from the ground.

Measuring roughly fifteen metres in diameter, the enclosure is defined by a low bank, with a small annexe extending from its western side. It sits within a larger field system, suggesting that whoever shaped this landscape was working at considerable scale, organising both the land around the enclosure and the enclosure itself as part of a broader pattern of use and occupation.

Circular enclosures of this kind are a common feature of the Irish countryside, though their purposes varied considerably. Some served as farmsteads, the bank offering a degree of protection for livestock or a household; others had ceremonial or burial functions. The small annexe here is a detail worth noting. These attached secondary spaces sometimes functioned as stock pens or entranceways, hinting at the enclosure's practical, agricultural character rather than anything more ceremonial. The site forms part of a documented field system in the Formoyle area, which speaks to a period when the slopes of Slieve Elva, a limestone hill in the Burren uplands, were more intensively worked than they are today.

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 Enclosure, Formoyle, Co. Clare. 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