Not a possible inauguration mound of the O'Carrolls of Ely O'Carroll country

UPDATE:

Additional information has come to light regarding this mound and it is in fact probably just an Anglo-Norman Motte - for more on this see here.


This moate in the townland of Moatquarter is described as the following on archaeology.ie

"Situated near S end of a roughly N-S ridge, overlooking a valley, in pasture. The land rises steadily E of the site, though the slope is still overlooked by a motte. A church (OF047-009----) and graveyard (OF047-009001-), rectangular enclosure (OF047-008----) and sunken ways are visible on the opposing ridge to the S-SW. The site consists of a steep-sided, flat-topped mound (max. diam. NE-SW 11m; 8.5m N-S; 9.6m E-W: H 9m) of classic pudding-bowl profile. Enclosed from E to S to NW by a fosse (Wth 1.6m; D 2m) which has been dug into the ridge. The enclosing bank (Wth 1.3m) on the SE side appears to be the remains of the original ridge and is actually a false bank or counterscarp. No bailey visible. A National Monuments Preservation Order no. 4 was placed on this monument in 2008."

Fosse around the mound (with the M7 construction works in the background)

As mentioned there is no visible trace of a bailey (of course this may be traceable via other surveying methods). There is also a church and graveyard site nearby at Drumroe with a bullaun stone.

A closer look

I first found mention of this in relation to being an inauguration mound in Elizabeth Fitzpatrick's wonderful book "Royal Inauguration in Gaelic Ireland c.1100–1600: a Cultural Landscape Study"

It states on pg 94

"Ceathramhain an Mhóta or Moatquarter 'motte', situated in the barony of Ikerrin north Tipperary, has been described in conflicting terms as 'the best known Anglo-Norman earthwork in Ely O'Carroll' and 'the old inauguration site of the kings of Éile'. The opinion that the mound at Ceathramhain an Mhóta was the inauguration place of Ó Cearbhaill derives solely from a local 'tradition' documented in 1929'.

Fitzpatrick also calls into question its proximity to an Anglo-Norman caput at Dunkerrin less than two miles away and the fact that the above mentioned Drumroe is on the other side of a river and in a different parish / county (Often they would go hand and hand together and would stay within the same boundary). She also wonders about the profile of the mound for defense and compares it to another inauguration mound at Coggins Hill, Co. Sligo.

The local 'tradition' she references comes from Gwynn & Gleeson's "History of the Diocese of Killaloe" - it states "Hereabouts was certainly the centre of the Ua Cerbaill rule, and also of the Norman lordship". 

However it is right on the border between two baronies - Clonlisk & Ikerrin. It is actually in Ikerrin and in later times Ikerrin is referred to as O'Meagher country during the reign of Henry VIII. Could it also have been an inauguration mound for the O'Meaghers in later times?

I honestly don't know; the lands controlled and clans in control probably ebbed and flowed with different families in control of different lands at different times. Therefore there could be a multitude of different inauguration sites across Tipperary. However this does not seem likely as records of any of them are so scant. 

O'Loughlin / O'Loghlin Inauguration Site near Kilshanny in Co. Clare.

The picture is of Carn Mhic Tail near Kilshanny in Co. Clare - likely to be the medieval inauguration site of the O'Loghlins. Carleton Jones book on the Burren believes that Carn Mhic Tail was the medieval inauguration site for the O'Connors and O'Loughlins. He says that "Carn Mhic Tail is named after Tailm the ancestor of both Conchobhar and Locklainn, and it was considered the burial place of Tail". He does go on to say that many medieval inauguration sites reused ancient burial mounds so as to legitimise their rule.

Inauguration Sites in Tipperary

Inauguration of the O'Neill on 1602 map of Ulster by Richard Bartlett

I must admit I have a soft spot for royal inauguration sites. This one here was for the O'Neill clan of Ulster. Not that many have been recorded in Tipperary but if you see some of the pre Cromwellian maps of Tipperary / North West Munster there were at least 12 "countries" in the North Western section, all of which would have required an inauguration site. Clues to a site include a sacred tree or bíle, a stone chair or a footprint stone. Generally they were on a height, so on top a mound or barrow. There doesn't seem to be a consistency to their location sometimes they were on the edge of a territory, sometimes in the middle. Sometimes a rival site could be set up during times of civil war.

Here is a list of the "Chief Irish regions and countries of Thomond and Chief Captains of the same"
This was essentially part of King Henry VIII's enemy list in North Munster but also points to these being "countries" in their own right with chiefs that would require inauguration. ...

"O' Brien de Toybrien (Clare and Limerick)
O'Kennedy de Ormond (Tipperary)
O'Carroll de Ely (King's Co.)
O'Meagher de Ikerin (Tipperary)
McMahon de Coroaskin (Clare)
O'Loghlin de Burrin (W. Clare)
O'Grady de Kinall Downall (Clare)
O'Brien de Arra (Tipperary)
O'Mulryan de Owney (Tipperary)
O'Doure (O'Dwyer) de Kylnemanagh (Tipperary)
McBrien Oghonagh (Coonagh) (Limerick)"
Taken from "The History of the O'Dwyers" by Sir Michael O'Dwyer

So from this we can see that the O'Kennedys, O'Carrolls, O'Meaghers, O'Briens, O'Mulryans & O'Dwyers all would have had to have inauguration sites all within the general area of North Tipp. To my knowledge no record has ever been kept of the sites locations. Personally I think this is something that needs to be addressed, is it possible to rediscover these inauguration landscapes?

Woodbine Lodge & it's Fairy Mound

The 'tea-mount' at Shean Forts

I visited these unusual monuments a number of years ago and it was not till I learned of the significance of similar placenames from the writings of Professor Ronald Hicks, that the importance of the name Shean Forts became apparent to me.
Logainm.ie (the placename translator) does not have this particular site within its database but for every other instance of the name Shean - it translates it as An Sián - which means Fairy Mound.

Shean forts - 1840s OS map Copyright Ordnance Survey Ireland | Government of Ireland

The monuments themselves are listed as two ringforts with a designed landscape feature - avenue between them.

Panorama of the complex together (they are approx. 250m in length)

The first ringfort is described on archaeology.ie as

Situated on level ground in undulating pastureland. A circular area (diam. c. 45.5m E-W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3.9m; int. H 0.65m; ext. H 3.26m), a fosse (Wth 10.3m; D 3.63m) and an outer bank/walkway (Wth 14.7m; ext. H 1.35m). The main Dublin to Nenagh railway line truncates the NW quadrant (post 1840). A steep-sided, earthen mound occupies the centre of the site (diam. c. 20m; H 4m). The top of this is dug into to a depth of 1.3m. The sharp profile of the defences, the lack of a causeway or entrance, the very broad outer bank, the central mound which could be interpreted as 'tea-mount', the planting of the site with beech trees and the connection to a nearby possible ringfort (TN021-007003) by a tree-lined avenue would all suggest that this may be a tree-ring possibly modifying an existing ringfort.

Fosse of the first ring-fort - must be over 3m in depth

The second ringfort and avenue between are described on archaeology.ie as

Situated on level ground in undulating pastureland. A circular area (diam. 38.8m) enclosed by a steep-sided inner bank (Wth 2.2m; int. H 1.05m; ext. H 3m), a fosse (Wth 6.6m; D 2.1m) and an outer bank (Wth 3.3m; ext. H 1.05m). Causewayed entrance in NE quadrant (Wth 1.8m). The site is planted with beech trees and is connected to a nearby possible ringfort (TN021-007001) by a tree-lined avenue suggesting the possible reuse of a ringfort as a tree-ring.

The avenue between the two - you can make out the width by the green fields on either side. 

There is also mention of a possible souterrain to the east of the first ring-fort but field inspection has ruled out this possibility.

These descriptions refer to the ring-forts being modified to become landscape features by growing trees on them to create what is called a tree-ring. This is the similar explanation for the avenue between the two ring-forts. Also there is a central mound within the first ring-fort that has been interpreted as a 'tea-mount' I assume for the nearby Woodbine lodge to the east. This would be similar to the 'tea-mount' that was built on top of Dowth in Co. Meath.

Gabriel Beranger: View of the Tumulus or Barrow at Douth, Co. Meath, 1775. (Royal Irish Academy).

So a relatively modern interpretation has been applied to the various features here. The two large ring-forts that were adjacent to each other with very deep ditches were turned into a landscape feature by the addition of two linear banks connecting them together. Then a mound was added to one of the ring-forts and all of the features planted with trees.
I haven't been able to find out who were the owners of Woodbine lodge to see whether they would have had the means to carry out these works, so if anyone can help me out with that it would be a great help. It seems like a pretty big project but I suppose it can't be ruled out.  Perhaps the owners of Woodbine lodge added the name Shean forts to them after they completed the landscaping?

The counter argument is based only on placename evidence - namely that these monuments are older than this and part of a 'fairy-mound'. Could older monuments such as barrows have been modified to create ring-forts and then later in relatively modern times the trees were added to them?

These forts are in the vicinity of a number of other significant monuments, Rathurles (which I've written about before here) is only 1.5 km away and the Rathurles Commons crannogs are just 1.5 kms away (as well) and I have speculated before about them being part of a possible  royal landscape associated with the Aenach Urmhumhan or "The Fair of Munster".

Please note that this monument is on private lands and permission must be sought before viewing.

The Fairy Mansion of Shevry

I always wondered about this unusual placename and what it meant. It wasn't till Professor Ronald Hicks posted about his research on placenames associated with Fairy Sídh's or mounds that I came across its meaning. Shevry comes from Siodhbhruigh or Fairy Mansion.
There are a number of ancient remains on the hill. I have only visited the stone pair and barrow but there is also a ring-barrow with a cist in it farther up the hill which may be the inspiration for the placename.
This area is pretty remote so it may be that there is still something up here that is unrecorded or has been destroyed that was the reason for the placename.
I have it on my list for a revisit but have not had the opportunity to do so. Tom Fourwinds of Megalithomania wondered whether the stone pair may have been aligned to the Equinox sunset but back in 2014 I checked this and confirmed that they weren't.