This article is from page 27 of the 2007-09-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
A SURVEY of ancient monuments, including churches, castles and ring forts, in the Shannon region, 1s cur- rently being undertaken.
Duchas na Sionna is spearhead- ing the project, which includes visits to some 150 sites, between Bunratty Castle to the Fergus Estuary.
Among the main monuments in- cluded in the survey include ring forts, an Anglo-Norman moated site,
an Anglo Norman motte and bailey, a hilltop enclosure which dates back to the bronze era, several fulachta fiadh (cooking places), which also date back to the bronze age, along with several churches and castles. More than 100 ring forts in the area were also visited by members of Duchas na Sionna. This is the first time these sites were visited – from an archaeological point of view – since the 1970s. The project has been ongoing for almost two years and is due to be completed at the end
of this year.
Duchas member Olive Carey, who is involved in the survey, said a number of aspects are taken into account, dur- ing the visits.
“We look at the condition of the sites and we check with the record of monuments and places to see which sites are listed,” said Ms Carey.
“Some of the monuments are not there any more, but most of them are,’ she said.
“We carry out a report on the sites,
for example, taking measurements. The last survey done locally was un- dertaken in the 1970s, by a MA stu- dent. We compare with that survey, to see if there has been any deterioration in the monuments since then.
“With this in mind, we write up a proper report, which we will publish,” said Ms Carey.
She said that landowners have been particularly helpful, offering vital bits of folklore, which adds hugely to the project.