The Tipperary Antiquarian

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 Preservati...

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 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 als...

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) an...

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.