Ancient Togher - Part 01 - Ring Forts

When discussing ancient settlements in Togher , Ring Forts spring to mind , such as the one off Lios Cross ( see more here ) , which remains Togher's only extant and visible example. The article closes with a look at the location of another former Ring Fort. However , during excavations for a gas pipeline being laid down some years ago , an exciting discovery was made which turned history on its head which will be looked at first.

Souterrain 

Excavation site of Souterrain
Photo : Pauline Murphy

During works being carried out in 2009 as part of the Ballinora - Lehenaghmore Gas Pipeline , something unusual was discovered in a field near the old Cork Bandon railway bridge which was brought to the attention of the relevant authorities. Something that had lain hidden for a very long time!

2009 Road Signage displayed during project

The archaeological excavation , off Mahers Lane in Chetwynd , unearthed the footprint of a circular house but for the first time ever , a souterrain nearby! Obviously living quarters would have been interred inside the ring fort for protection , the remains of which were long gone. Thankfully , nature preserved what was left for well over 2000 years as Archeologists have dated the find to the Bronze Age ( c. 2500 - 500 B.C. )

Excavation showing remnants of southerrain

 

Footprint of small circular house

What is immediately apparent and obviously exciting is that the find proves human habitation in Togher potentially going back well over 4000 years and perhaps even earlier! The purpose of such a construction underground lends itself to many uses ; food storage , security in the event of an attack or simply a place to store grain as it was dry maintaining a constant temperature of 4 Degrees no matter what the temperature was above ground. The word itself derives from the French - " Sous - Terrain " or " under ground " The images below show the area during its excavation phase in 2009 and how it looks today.

Excavated region on Mahers Lane 2009

Same area as seen today

Excavated region near old railway bridge 2009

Same area as seen today

Marked location in which souterrain was unearthed

Ring Fort

Ring Fort , Knocknamallvoge , Togher

Location of Lios Cross of Ring Fort

As mentioned above Togher is extremely lucky in having the only extant Ring Fort in the immediate vicinity of Cork City being located in Knocknamallavoge. It is sited in a field off Lios Cross on Spur Hill. It is 80ft. in diameter with some of its original embankment still visible. The surrounding embankment would have been much higher and would have had a wooden palisade on top. Inside would have been the living quarters with animals taken in for the night for security against wolves or raiding parties. A ditch would have also surrounded the whole structure.

Reconstruction of a Ring Fort
( Mark E.  Fisher )


Fort Field

Undoubtedly , Togher would have had many more Ring Forts in its past but these have either been completely destroyed by modern development or simply await discovery being worn down by the passage of time. One Townland in particular even owes its name to a Ring Fort - Knockalisheen! This had a Ring Fort up to the 1920s but sadly it must have been destroyed for agricultural use. It was sited in an area known still to this day as the " Fort Field ". The Townland's name itself is a corruption of the original Irish meaning " The Hill of the Little Fort ".

The " Fort Field " ( bottom centre )
Knockalisheen , Togher

Modern overlay showing location of Ring Fort

Entrance off Spur Hill to Fort Field
Neff household and Liberty Bridge to right

The 3 examples shown in this article gives concrete proof of habitation in Togher going back millennia and should instill in the community a sense of pride in a verifiable heritage and history. 

Acknowledgements:

Pauline Murphy
Paul O'Keeffe
Bord Gas Networks
Hegarty Contractors

23rd Fieldwork Trip - 24th September 2017 - Ring Fort

On 24th September 2017 Eamonn Pearse of the Togher Historical Assoc. along with Eamonn Twomey paid a visit to Chetwynd's oldest natural structure - the famed Ring Fort. This over looks the Laune Valley with a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. It is thought it dates back to the Bronze Age and is over 80ft in diametre - sadly its ditch has since been infilled. Originally it would most probably have had high stakes erected on the ditchtop for added protection from wolves and raiders and a wooden house inside for both family and livestock. In fact it would have been the owners actual home where he kept his cattle and family at night while during the day the cattle would have grazed nearby with the family sowing crops and performing other tasks. It must be remembered that when this was originally constructed , the area would not have been shired ; that is to say no field boundaries but open ground save for the heavy forest which surrounded it. Upon sight of enemy raiders emerging from the forest , the owner would have hurriedly rushed his family and cattle into the ring fort and fought off the intruders from the safety of the fort. Over time , these would have been abandoned and with the removal of any timber materials , would have become part of the local folklore attached to Fairy Rings , which the superstitious locals firmly believed in , having no knowledge of the original occupants. Thankfully , this has helped ensure its survival so that we may still have a tangible link to the past.

Approach to the Ring Fort/Fairy Fort

Closer view of Ring Fort

View of countryside from Ring Fort

Entrance to Ring Fort

Interior view of Ring Fort