Drumahaire is a barony of County Leitrim, in the historical province of Connacht (Irish: Droim Dhá Thiar), covering 474 km² of land. The barony records 753 NMS archaeological sites and 74 NIAH listed buildings, placing it at around the 38th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the lower half of all baronies for sites per km². Dated archaeological evidence runs from the Neolithic through to the Post Medieval, spanning 7 of 9 archaeological periods, placing the barony in the 25th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for chronological depth. This means it is in the bottom third of all baronies for chronological depth. The largest dated subset of recorded sites dates to the Early Medieval. Logainm flags 55 placenames in the barony as carrying a recognised heritage root; the largest share — around 45% — are names associated with pre-christian defensive.
Heritage at a glance
Percentile rankings throughout this profile compare each barony only against the other 279 Republic of Ireland baronies.
The recorded heritage of Drumahaire
The National Monuments Service Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) is the statutory inventory of archaeological sites for the Republic of Ireland, maintained by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Sites recorded here include earthworks, ringforts, megalithic tombs, ecclesiastical remains, and post-medieval features; not every record is legally protected, but each is registered as a monument of archaeological interest.
The National Monuments Service records 753 archaeological sites in Drumahaire, putting it at the 38th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the lower half of all baronies for sites per km². Protection coverage is near-universal — 709 sites (94%) fall within a recorded monument protection zone, indicating an extensively surveyed landscape. The dominant category is defensive sites — ringforts, enclosures, hillforts, and stone forts (440 sites, 58% of the record). Ringfort – rath is the most prevalent type, making up 30% of the barony's recorded sites (229 records) — well above the ROI average of 20% across all baronies where this type occurs. Ringfort – rath is an earthen ringfort enclosed by a bank and external ditch — the most common Early Medieval farmstead, broadly dated 500–1000 AD. Other significant types include Ringfort – cashel (85) and Enclosure (52). Ringfort – cashel is the stone-walled equivalent of the rath, found mainly in upland or western areas, broadly dated 500–1000 AD; Enclosure is a banked or ditched feature of uncertain type, used as a catch-all where the original function cannot be determined from surface evidence. Across the barony's 474 km², this gives a recorded density of 1.59 sites per km².
Most common monument types
Hover or tap a monument type to see its definition.
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Ringfort – rath an earthen ringfort enclosed by a bank and external ditch — the most common Early Medieval farmstead, broadly dated 500–1000 AD | 229 |
| Ringfort – cashel the stone-walled equivalent of the rath, found mainly in upland or western areas, broadly dated 500–1000 AD | 85 |
| Enclosure a banked or ditched feature of uncertain type, used as a catch-all where the original function cannot be determined from surface evidence | 52 |
| House – indeterminate date a habitation building whose date cannot be determined from available evidence | 34 |
| Souterrain an underground stone-built passage and chamber, generally Early Medieval and often associated with ringforts as a defensive or storage feature | 26 |
| Ringfort – unclassified a circular Early Medieval settlement enclosure where surviving evidence does not allow distinction between earthen and stone forms | 26 |
| Field boundary a continuous bank, wall or drain marking the limit of a field, of any date from the Neolithic onwards | 18 |
Chronological distribution
The dated archaeological record for Drumahaire spans from the Neolithic through to the Post Medieval, with activity attested across 7 of 9 archaeological periods. Every period from earliest to latest is represented in the record — an unbroken sequence of dated activity across the full chronological span. Activity concentrates most heavily in the Early Medieval (367 sites, 65% of dated material), with the Iron Age forming a secondary peak (116 sites, 20%). A further 185 recorded sites (25% of the overall NMS register for the barony) carry no period attribution — appearing as 'Unknown' in the bar chart below. This typically reflects either records that pre-date the standardised period vocabulary or sites awaiting specialist dating review, rather than a genuine absence of chronological evidence.
Sample of recorded monuments
Show 25 sample monuments (of 753 total)
A representative sample of 25 recorded monuments drawn from the barony’s 753 total NMS entries. Sites within a recorded monument protection zone and rarer site types are prioritised so the list shows a meaningful cross-section rather than only the most common type. Each entry shows the official Sites and Monuments Record reference number and the description published by the National Monuments Service.
Historic town
Manorhamilton was never chartered as a town, but once Sir Frederick Hamilton built the castle (LE007-079001-) a town started to grow around it. In the 1640s some mills are mentioned in connection with it, and the church…
Manorhamilton was never chartered as a town, but once Sir Frederick Hamilton built the castle (LE007-079001-) a town started to grow around it. In the 1640s some mills are mentioned in connection with it, and the church (LE011-014001-) is 17th century in date. The town had a population of 21 (heads of households) c. 1659 (Pender 1939, 568) and is described as consisting of c. 40 houses in the late 17th century (Logan 1971, 331). The star-shaped fort (LE011-015—-) is part of the town and overlooks it on the N side, but it was not built until the 18th century.
The town would have been built as a fortified frontier town of the period and like Jamestown (LE031-082—-) it could have consisted of properties on either side of a Main Street. This area (dims c. 290m NW-SE; c. 170-c. 220m NE-SW) extending SE from the NE-SW Owenmore River was divided into neat, equally-sized plots as depicted on the 1835 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. It has the Court House at the W end and the Market House near the E end where the original church is also located. Archaeological testing, largely in the vicinity of the castle, has failed to produce any related material, and testing (06E0016) behind properties on the Main St. and at the SE end of the town (10E0113) have not demonstrated occupation from the 17th century (Henry 2009e; Wallace 2013).
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In…
Graveslab
There are plain limestone grave-markers within the church (LE010-036001-) but there is no evidence of burial in the overgrown rectangular field (dims 38m N-S; 18m E-W) attached to the N. There is a record of a memorial…
There are plain limestone grave-markers within the church (LE010-036001-) but there is no evidence of burial in the overgrown rectangular field (dims 38m N-S; 18m E-W) attached to the N. There is a record of a memorial commemorating two children of Robert Parke (d. 1671). The inscription reads: HERE LYETH THE BODYES OF ROB/ERT AND MARY CHILDREEN [sic] TO CAP. ROBERT PARKE / 1677. (FitzGerald 1910-12c; Foley and Donnelly 2012, 20). Recorded as a flat slab within the walls of the church, it cannot now be identified (Moore 2003, 173, No. 1400; ibid.).
Revised by: Paul Walsh
Date of upload: 6 December 2012
Promontory fort – inland
Situated on a plug of rock outcrop rising from a S-facing slope. Grass-covered triangular area (dims 40m NE-SW; 25m NW-SE at SW to c. 10m at NE) with naturally defensive cliffs (H 2-6m) on all sides except at NE, where…
Situated on a plug of rock outcrop rising from a S-facing slope. Grass-covered triangular area (dims 40m NE-SW; 25m NW-SE at SW to c. 10m at NE) with naturally defensive cliffs (H 2-6m) on all sides except at NE, where a fosse (L c. 10m; Wth of top c. 8m; Wth of base 3.5m; ext. D 1m; int. D 2.4m) has been dug at the narrowest point. Within the enclosure a rectangular platform (dims 13m NE-SW; 7m NW-SE) is defined by a slight fosse (Wth 4-6m; max. D 0.5m) on all sides except at NW, where it abuts the cliff-edge. The perimeter of the promontory has stone field walls built on it.
See the attached aerial view from the NE _1, and a view of the fosse looking SE _2
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Bastioned fort
Situated on the highest point of a hill within Manorhamilton, it would have been just NE of the original town. This is a square enclosure (dims 73m N-S; 73m E-W) with corner bastions (dims 17m N-S; 17m E-W) defined by a…
Situated on the highest point of a hill within Manorhamilton, it would have been just NE of the original town. This is a square enclosure (dims 73m N-S; 73m E-W) with corner bastions (dims 17m N-S; 17m E-W) defined by a coursed limestone masonry wall (max. Wth 0.9m; int. H 1.2m; ext. H 3-6m) built on a plinth over bedrock. There is an 18th-century Church of Ireland church and graveyard in the interior. Archaeological testing (02E0010) inside the SE angle identified a wall that may have been part of a gun-platform (Read 2004b), but archaeological testing (02E1412) on Church Lane just to the W produced no related material (Read 2004a). Further testing (19E0679) immediately outside the W wall and just S of the NW bastion produced no related material (Halpin 2019; excavations.ie 2019: 412)
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Amended: 28 October 2020
Tomb – effigial
A sandstone image carved three quarters in the round (L 0.76m; Wth 0.3m; H 0.18m) is in the church of Cloonclare (LE011-019001-) and represents a female figure in repose. The head is missing, although the pillow on…
A sandstone image carved three quarters in the round (L 0.76m; Wth 0.3m; H 0.18m) is in the church of Cloonclare (LE011-019001-) and represents a female figure in repose. The head is missing, although the pillow on which it rested survives. It is wearing a cloak and the ruff at the neck indicates a late 16th or early 17th century date. It may represent a child, or be one figure from a larger memorial.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 15 April, 2016
Barrow – ring-barrow
Located at the W edge of a fairly level shelf on the valley floor of the Bonet River, with a N-S section of the stream c. 130m to the W. This is a grass-covered flat-topped mound (dims of top 6m N-S; 9.5m E-W; dims of…
Located at the W edge of a fairly level shelf on the valley floor of the Bonet River, with a N-S section of the stream c. 130m to the W. This is a grass-covered flat-topped mound (dims of top 6m N-S; 9.5m E-W; dims of base 14m N-S; 12m E-W; H 0.2m E-S to 0.6m at W) defined by a shallow fosse (Wth of top 6-11m; Wth of base 3.5-9m; ext. D 0.4-0.8m) and an outer bank (Wth 1.5-2m; ext. H 0.2m) NE-S-W. In places the bank is separated from the fosse by a slight berm, but an entrance through the bank has not been identified. The NW part of the monument has been disturbed by an old quarry which has left a grass-covered scarp (H 1.5m) at this side, and the perimeter is missing W-NE (max. ext. dims 33m N-S; 28m ENE-WSW).
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of revised upload: 19 April, 2016
Fulacht fia
Marked only on the 1943 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, it is located at the bottom of a SW-facing slope on the floor of the Bonet River valley, with a small tributary of the river c. 130m to the W. This is a grass-covered,…
Marked only on the 1943 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, it is located at the bottom of a SW-facing slope on the floor of the Bonet River valley, with a small tributary of the river c. 130m to the W. This is a grass-covered, kidney-shaped, stony mound (dims 10.5m NE-SW; 9.5m NW-SE; H 0.2-0.6m) which has a trough area (dims 3.5m NW-SE; 2m NE-SW) at the NW side.
See the attached view from the N.
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Water mill – unclassified
Situated in the valley between Leean Mountain c. 400m to the NW and Fawnarry ridge c. 400m to the SE, on the W bank of a N-S stream close to its source. This is a stone-lined sunken mill-race (dims 21.4m NNE-SSW;…
Situated in the valley between Leean Mountain c. 400m to the NW and Fawnarry ridge c. 400m to the SE, on the W bank of a N-S stream close to its source. This is a stone-lined sunken mill-race (dims 21.4m NNE-SSW; 3.75-4.3m WNW-ESE; max. D 1m) which had silted up and been partly cleared to allow the stream flow through with spoil mounds to E and W. A leat, now silted up, by-passes the race on the E side. There is no evidence of any mill buildings.
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Stone row
Situated on level ground with the SW-NE Glenfarne river just to the NW. Two standing stones placed 3m apart form an E-W alignment (L 4.95m) (E stone: dims 0.85m x 0.25m; H 1.2m; W stone: dims 0.75m x 0.3m; H 2m). A…
Situated on level ground with the SW-NE Glenfarne river just to the NW. Two standing stones placed 3m apart form an E-W alignment (L 4.95m) (E stone: dims 0.85m x 0.25m; H 1.2m; W stone: dims 0.75m x 0.3m; H 2m). A third, displaced, slab (dims 0.8m x 0.3m; L 2.25m) lies between the two upright stones.
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
See the attached view from SE _1
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Religious house – Franciscan friars
Situated on a shoulder overlooking the Bonet River, which is c. 150m to the NE. This is an Observant Franciscan friary, known as Carraig Phádraigh – Patrick’s Rock – founded by Owen O'Rourke and his wife Margaret…
Situated on a shoulder overlooking the Bonet River, which is c. 150m to the NE. This is an Observant Franciscan friary, known as Carraig Phádraigh – Patrick’s Rock – founded by Owen O'Rourke and his wife Margaret O'Brien in 1508, the pious couple who also commissioned the Shrine of St Caillín of Fenagh (LE025-096001-) in 1526 (Murphy 1892). Creevelea was accidentally burned in 1536 before it was suppressed in 1541, but it continued to be used intermittently by the friars until the 1590s (O'Connell 1937, 137-50; Kelly 2019, 200-01). Con O’Rourke, a grandson of the founders, entered the order at Carraig Phádraig, but on returning from a period in Rome was martyred at Kilmallock in 1579 (ibid. 199). The church, consisting of nave, chancel, tower and S transept, survives almost complete. The cloister and domestic buildings, largely reduced to the ground-floor level and foundations, are N of the church.
The nave (int. dims 18.6m E-W; 6.6m N-S) has a pointed W doorway (Wth 1.1m; H 2.1m) with a hood-moulding which has carved tendrils at the terminals. Overhead is a twin-light tracery window (Wth 1.4m; H 3.7m). Two round arches, springing from an octagonal and two attached semi-octagonal piers, lead to a S transept (int. dims 13.3m N-S; 6.75m E-W), which has a number of recesses and a large three-light pointed window (Wth 1.75m; H 4m) in the S wall from which the tracery has been removed. Its E wall has two windows, each with a two-light round-headed window and an altar inside….
Tomb – unclassified
The founders of the Creevelea Abbey (LE014-004001-), Eoin O'Rourke who died in 1528 and his wife Margaret who died in 1512, were buried in a magnificent tomb in the chancel (O'Connell 1937, 138), but the tomb does not…
The founders of the Creevelea Abbey (LE014-004001-), Eoin O'Rourke who died in 1528 and his wife Margaret who died in 1512, were buried in a magnificent tomb in the chancel (O'Connell 1937, 138), but the tomb does not survive.
Date of upload: 07 December 2011
Castle – hall-house
Situated on a high bluff overlooking a gorge of the Bonet River which is immediately to the S, and it is at the S end of Dromahaire village. This is a hall-castle, possibly of 13th-century date, which was known as…
Situated on a high bluff overlooking a gorge of the Bonet River which is immediately to the S, and it is at the S end of Dromahaire village. This is a hall-castle, possibly of 13th-century date, which was known as O’Rourke’s Hall, and it remained a stronghold of the O'Rourkes until the 17th century. The castle may have been built by William Gorm de Lacy who undertook in 1221 to build three stone castles in Breifne for Philip de Angulo (Manning 1989-90, 22). Alternatively it might have been built by the O’Rourkes themselves after the Battle of Magh Sleacht in 1256 when they regained control of west Breifne (Co. Leitrim) and moved their centre of power into the fastness of north Leitrim. However, it is likely to date to a later period, perhaps the fifteenth or sixteenth century, suggested by the punch dressing used on some of the stonework (O'Conor and Fredengren 2019, 82-4; McDermott 2019, 111-13), unless this is repair. Despite the advantage of isolation Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connaught, is said to have launched a surprise attack on Dromahaire in 1588 (Grose 1791, 2, 92).
The surviving remains are a single-storey rectangular structure (int. dims 21.5m NE-SW; 7.38m NW-SE) built of mortared limestone walls (Wth 1.5-2m; H 5-6m), the stone of which is probably derived from quarries immediately adjacent to the SE and NW. The walls are ivy-covered but there were four round-headed window embrasures in each long wall as illustrated by Grose (ibid. 2, Pl. 35), all of…
House – 17th century
Situated at the S end of a flat-topped ridge of grass and scrub-covered rock outcrop (dims c. 250m NE-SW; c. 35-40m NW-SE) overlooking the W end of Belhavel Lough. Traditionally, a castle was built by the Montgomery…
Situated at the S end of a flat-topped ridge of grass and scrub-covered rock outcrop (dims c. 250m NE-SW; c. 35-40m NW-SE) overlooking the W end of Belhavel Lough. Traditionally, a castle was built by the Montgomery family, possibly in the later 17th century (Faughnan 1943, file no. 141). There is no structure visible at ground level, but a single cut-stone fragment which may be the base of an attached, square-sectioned pilaster is kept nearby.
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Children's burial ground
Situated on top of a drumlin within the enclosure of Corcormick church (LE016-016001-) and just to the E of the church. An area (dims c. 5-10m E-W; c. 12m N-S) is strewn with stones, most of which are not set in the…
Situated on top of a drumlin within the enclosure of Corcormick church (LE016-016001-) and just to the E of the church. An area (dims c. 5-10m E-W; c. 12m N-S) is strewn with stones, most of which are not set in the ground.
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Prehistoric site – lithic scatter
Located at the N end of the W shore of Lough Allen. During 1968 when water levels were low, G. F. Mitchell and P. Healy collected worked chert, including Bann flakes, struck flakes, a small core and debitage from the…
Located at the N end of the W shore of Lough Allen. During 1968 when water levels were low, G. F. Mitchell and P. Healy collected worked chert, including Bann flakes, struck flakes, a small core and debitage from the lake shore (Mitchell 1970, 7-8). In March 2015 Karl Brady of the Underwater Archaeology Unit discovered a chert blade in close proximity to a newly discovered logboat at Drummans Lower on Lough Allen. The discovery of the chert blade could be related to the lithic scatter recorded by Healy and Mitchell in the late 1960s (pers. comm. Karl Brady 28/08/2018).
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 4 August 2018
Booley hut
Located c. 20m from the W edge of the Tullyskeherny plateau, overlooking the NE-SW Bonet River valley to the W. Grass-covered area (int. dims 4.3m NW-SE; 1.7m NE-SW) defined by a low wall-footing (Wth 0.8m). Rath…
Located c. 20m from the W edge of the Tullyskeherny plateau, overlooking the NE-SW Bonet River valley to the W. Grass-covered area (int. dims 4.3m NW-SE; 1.7m NE-SW) defined by a low wall-footing (Wth 0.8m). Rath (LE011-066001-) is c. 50m to the SW.
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Gatehouse
Prior to the conversion of the location into a fortified manor house by Captain Robert Parke in the early 1630s, the bawn surrounding the O’Rourke tower house was entered via a gateway in the E wall. This gateway was…
Prior to the conversion of the location into a fortified manor house by Captain Robert Parke in the early 1630s, the bawn surrounding the O’Rourke tower house was entered via a gateway in the E wall. This gateway was substantially enlarged by Parke into a three storey gatehouse. This may have served either as his primary residential unit or as ancillary space to a timber house that was placed where the current manor house is located and where he was residing until the latter’s demolition and the construction of the manor house which was fully integrated into the gatehouse (Foley and Donnelly 2012, 27).
This is a National Monument in state ownership: No. 390
See the attached view of the gatehouse from the interior of the bawn _1
Compiled by: Paul Walsh
Date of upload: 6 December 2012
Penitential station
Situated at the crest of the NE-facing slope of a drumlin The pilgrims' cairn (dims 5m NE-SW; 3.3m NW-SE; H c. 0.3m) is adjacent to St Brigid's Well (LE018-032001-) which is renowned for the cure of toothache (Clancy…
Situated at the crest of the NE-facing slope of a drumlin The pilgrims' cairn (dims 5m NE-SW; 3.3m NW-SE; H c. 0.3m) is adjacent to St Brigid's Well (LE018-032001-) which is renowned for the cure of toothache (Clancy and Forde 1980, 7-8). The well is still venerated and pilgrims add to the cairn on each visit.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 4 October, 2016
Ritual site – holy tree/bush
Situated at the base of a S-facing slope and just SW of the enclosure of St Mary's holy well (LE015-105001-). A rag-tree, which is a mature deciduous tree, is enclosed in a small cairn (diam. 2m; max. H…
Situated at the base of a S-facing slope and just SW of the enclosure of St Mary's holy well (LE015-105001-). A rag-tree, which is a mature deciduous tree, is enclosed in a small cairn (diam. 2m; max. H 0.6m).
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 15 September, 2016
Gateway
Located on a high bluff overlooking the twisting gorge of this SE-NE section of the River Bonet, with the stream c. 100m to the S and c. 120m to the W. The fortified house (LE014-008001-) is towards the NE end of the…
Located on a high bluff overlooking the twisting gorge of this SE-NE section of the River Bonet, with the stream c. 100m to the S and c. 120m to the W. The fortified house (LE014-008001-) is towards the NE end of the bawn (LE014-008002-) but is not attached to the bawn wall at any point. The original gatehouse (ext. dims 11.6m plus NE-SW; c. 6.5m NW-SE) was at the S end of the NW bawn wall and offset to the W. Its only substantial wall at SW (T 1.6m; H c. 3m) has a narrow entrance passage (Wth 0.7m) with a centrally placed portcullis-niche and a hanging eye and spud-stone internally for a door that was secured by three metal hoops on the other side. The NW wall has five gun-loops but there is no indication that there was ever a vaulted passage or upper level.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload; 1 September, 2016
Anomalous stone group
Situated on high heather covered boggy ground with good views of Lough Macnean to the E .This is an area where the landcover is dominated by blanket bog and heath. Located immediately to the E of the possible bullaun…
Situated on high heather covered boggy ground with good views of Lough Macnean to the E .This is an area where the landcover is dominated by blanket bog and heath. Located immediately to the E of the possible bullaun stone (LE009-012—-), present remains consist of several low orthostats that are protruding above the surface of the heather-covered bog. These low orthostats appear to be forming an irregular shape with a possible mound inside. These othorstats may be kerbing of a low cairn or mound or may be the remains of a robbed-out cairn or some form of possible megalithic structure. It is more likely however, because the low upright stones are not set into deep sockets, that it may be some form of turf stand associated with turf cutting that was being carried out in the immediate vicinity of this structure.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 29 January, 2016
Structure
Situated at the inner (S) side of a lip at the outer edge of a shelf on the N-facing slope of the Leean plateau, with cliffs (H c. 25m) rising over it c. 25m to the S and a small basin just to the S. It is hidden from…
Situated at the inner (S) side of a lip at the outer edge of a shelf on the N-facing slope of the Leean plateau, with cliffs (H c. 25m) rising over it c. 25m to the S and a small basin just to the S. It is hidden from the Glencar valley, which is to the N. This structure was first identified by Kytmannow as a booley-hut in Area G, and it is accompanied by three house sites. The structure is marked on the 1907 edition of the OS 6-inch map, and probably post-dates the other house sites. This is a rectangular structure (ext. dims 4.65m NW-SE: 3.6m NE-SW; Int. dims 3.35m NW-SE; 2.3m NE-SW) constructed with a double-faced drystone wall (Wth 0.6-0.7m; H 0.6-0.8m) with an entrance gap (Wth 0.6m) at the W end of the SW wall.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 3 July, 2017
House – 18th/19th century
This nineteenth century three-roomed single storey farmhouse, close to Kiltyclogher, was the childhood home of Sean Mac Diarmada, who was a signatory of the 1916 proclamation and was executed on 12th May, 1916. The…
This nineteenth century three-roomed single storey farmhouse, close to Kiltyclogher, was the childhood home of Sean Mac Diarmada, who was a signatory of the 1916 proclamation and was executed on 12th May, 1916. The house is a conserved national monument in the ownership of the State, National Monument No. 508.
This is a National Monument in state ownership: No. 508
See the attached external view from the NE _1 and part of the main room inside _2.
Date of revised upload: 29 January 2016
Kerb circle
Situated within a hillfort (LE010-085005-) on a plateau of outcropping rock with panoramic views in all directions. It is located immediately inside the S rampart on the edge of the summit of this plateau. This is a…
Situated within a hillfort (LE010-085005-) on a plateau of outcropping rock with panoramic views in all directions. It is located immediately inside the S rampart on the edge of the summit of this plateau. This is a possible kerb circle consisting of 22 contiguous orthostats (H 0.2m) defining a circular area (int. diam. 6.8m), the interior of which today appears as a low turf covered mound. The interior of this monument forms a perfect circle which is too regular to be the result of quarrying. Two hut sites (LE010-085002-/003-) are located 30m to the N while a circular quarry feature (LE010-085001-) is 23m to the NNE. (Kytmannow, Kahlert and Hunt 2010)
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 19 November 2012
Ringfort – rath
Located in an area of rock outcrop on a S-facing slope and overlooked by a cliff to the N. This is a circular area (int. diam. 32m) planted with coniferous trees in a small forest defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3.3m;…
Located in an area of rock outcrop on a S-facing slope and overlooked by a cliff to the N. This is a circular area (int. diam. 32m) planted with coniferous trees in a small forest defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3.3m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 1.45m). There is no identifiable original entrance or visible fosse. Archaeological testing (03E0069) in Carricafad c. 10m to the SW produced no related material (Read 2006).
The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 September 2008
Listed buildings
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) is a state survey appraising buildings of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical interest. Each surveyed structure receives a rating from International (the highest, for buildings of European importance) through National, Regional, Local, and Record-Only.
The NIAH records 74 listed buildings in Drumahaire (40th percentile across ROI baronies). All recorded buildings carry Regional or lower grading; the barony does not contain any structures appraised as being of National or International architectural importance. Construction dates concentrate most heavily in the Victorian (1830-1900) period. The most-recorded building type is house (16 examples, 22% of the listed stock).
Terrain and environment
Mean elevation across the barony is 163m — the 91st percentile among 280 ROI baronies for elevation. This means it is in the top tenth of all baronies for elevation. This is a relatively elevated landscape by ROI standards. Elevation matters for heritage because higher-altitude baronies typically favour defensive monuments — ringforts and hilltop forts placed on prominent ground — while lowland baronies are more likely to carry the dense settlement and church networks of intensive agricultural landscapes. The barony reaches 560m at its highest point — a vertical span of more than 397m within its boundary, indicating significant topographic diversity. Mean slope is 6.8° — the 91st percentile among 280 ROI baronies for slope. This means it is in the top tenth of all baronies for slope. This is consistently steep terrain by ROI standards, the kind of landscape that tends to preserve upstanding archaeological features well. Slope is a key control on both land use and archaeological preservation: steep ground resists ploughing and tends to preserve earthworks intact, while gentle slopes favour intensive cultivation that damages or destroys surface archaeology over time. The Topographic Wetness Index averages 9.6, the 9th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for wetness. This means it is in the bottom tenth of all baronies for wetness. This is well-drained ground by ROI standards — typical of upland or steeply-sloping country that sheds water rapidly. Drainage matters for heritage because poorly-drained ground preserves organic archaeology (wooden trackways, leather, textiles, and on rare occasions human remains) far better than free-draining soil; well-drained ground favours arable use but destroys organic material rapidly. The land-cover mosaic combines improved grassland (60%), woodland (34%), and open water (6%), giving a mixed agricultural and semi-natural landscape. In overall character, this is an upland landscape of steep, elevated terrain, with land use dominated by improved grassland.
Terrain measurements
Where this barony sits in the Republic of Ireland
Geology and preservation
Bedrock geology shapes the landscape long before any settlement begins — controlling soil drainage, agricultural potential, the survival of upstanding monuments, and the preservation of buried archaeology. The figures below come from the Geological Survey Ireland 1:100,000 bedrock map.
The bedrock underlying Drumahaire is predominantly shale (21% of the barony by area), laid down during the Carboniferous period (93% by area, around 359 to 299 million years ago). Shale weathers to thin, acidic, frequently waterlogged soils, historically marginal for arable but suited to upland pasture and bog development. Shale-dominated baronies often carry sparse ringfort records and a higher representation of bog-preserved archaeology. A substantial secondary geology of shale and minor sandstone (18%) and limestone (14%) adds further variety to the underlying landscape. With 11 distinct rock types mapped, the barony sits in the top third of ROI baronies for geological diversity (92nd percentile) — typically a sign of complex tectonic history or coastal mosaics of differing rock units.
Rock type composition
Largest mapped unit: Dergvone Shale Formation (18% of the barony)
Placename evidence
Logainm records 55 heritage-diagnostic placenames for Drumahaire, drawn from townland and civil-parish names across the barony. The dominant stratum is pre-Christian and Early Medieval defensive — ráth-, lios-, dún-, and caiseal-prefixed names that mark Iron Age and early historic settlement. The leading diagnostic roots are cill- (20 — church), lios- (14 — ringfort or enclosure), and ráth- (6 — earthen ringfort). This is above the ROI average of 30.7 heritage placenames per barony. The presence of multiple heritage strata side by side indicates layered occupation of the landscape across successive prehistoric and historic periods. Logainm records 377 placenames for Drumahaire (predominantly townland names). Of these, 55 (15%) carry one of the diagnostic Gaelic roots tracked above; the remainder draw on more generic landscape vocabulary that does not encode a heritage period.
Pre-Christian / Early Medieval Defensive
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| lios- | 14 | ringfort or enclosure |
| ráth- | 6 | earthen ringfort |
| dún- | 3 | hilltop or promontory fort |
| caiseal- | 2 | stone ringfort |
Early Christian Ecclesiastical
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cill- | 20 | church (early) |
| domhnach- | 2 | pre-Patrician or earliest Patrician church |
| cillín- | 1 | unconsecrated burial ground |
Burial, Ritual, and Norse-Contact
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| carn- | 3 | cairn |
| leacht- | 3 | grave monument |
| sián- | 1 | fairy mound |
Other baronies in Leitrim
- Carrigallen
- Rosclogher
- Leitrim
- Mohill
- Ballymoe — Galway
- Moycullen — Galway
- Kiltartan — Galway
- Kilconnell — Galway
- Tireragh — Sligo
- Galway — Galway
See all 280 baronies in the Republic of Ireland Heritage Tool.
Explore further
Grounding History: 10 Maps of Northern Ireland’s Past
If you’re interested in Irish heritage more widely, the companion report for Northern Ireland brings together the analysis of all 462 NI wards into one place through 10 high-quality maps — covering monument density, archaeological periods, placename heritage, terrain, wetland, and the historic landscape at first survey. Take a look.
About this profile
Click any section below to expand.
What is a barony?
A barony is a historic administrative unit in Ireland, broadly equivalent to an English hundred. The 280 baronies used here are from the OSi 2019 National Statutory Boundaries (generalised 20m), covering the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland. Baronies derive from the Norman period, were formalised in the 17th century, and have not been redrawn for statistical purposes. They vary enormously in area, from compact urban baronies in Dublin to vast upland baronies in Connacht, and should not be compared by raw site count without accounting for area differences.
What counts as a site?
This profile combines three distinct heritage registers, each with its own definition of what constitutes a recordable site:
- Archaeological sites (NMS). The National Monuments Service Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) catalogues every known archaeological monument or site of archaeological interest in the Republic, from prehistoric burial mounds and ringforts to medieval churches and post-medieval defensive works. Inclusion does not require legal protection — only that the site has been identified, surveyed, and assessed as having archaeological value. A separate subset of these sites lies within a recorded protection zone, which gives them statutory protection under the National Monuments Acts.
- Listed buildings (NIAH). The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records buildings of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical interest. Each surveyed structure is appraised on a five-tier scale: International, National, Regional, Local, and Record-Only. The NIAH appraisal is informational rather than strictly statutory, but it underpins local-authority Record of Protected Structures (RPS) listings.
- Heritage placenames (Logainm). Logainm is the authoritative database of Irish placenames maintained by the Placenames Branch. This profile applies a heritage-diagnostic classifier to the Irish-language form of each townland name, flagging roots that signal defensive sites (ráth-, lios-, dún-, caiseal-, cathair-), ecclesiastical foundations (cill-, teampall-, domhnach-, mainistir-), prehistoric burial-ritual features (tuaim-, carn-, leaba-), or Norse-contact settlement (gall-). Townlands without one of these diagnostic roots are not flagged here — they may still carry historical significance, but that significance is not encoded in the name itself.
Editorial principles
The narrative sections of this profile follow several explicit principles:
- Evidential. Every claim about this barony’s heritage character is anchored in the underlying register data. Where a site count, a placename count, or a percentile rank is cited, it is computed from the source datasets at export time, not estimated.
- Comparative. Counts and metrics are reported alongside their percentile rank against the other 279 ROI baronies. A barony with 50 ringforts in absolute terms could be unusually high or unusually low depending on its size and regional context; percentile ranking removes that ambiguity.
- Transparent on limits. Where a register has known coverage gaps, survey biases, or data-quality issues that affect this barony’s figures, the profile flags them rather than presenting the numbers as definitive.
- No interpretation beyond what the data supports. The narrative does not speculate about historical events, social dynamics, or cultural meaning beyond what the recorded heritage and placename evidence directly attests.
Data caveats and limits
- NMS Sites and Monuments Record is the product of survey campaigns conducted at different intensities across different counties and decades. Some baronies have been surveyed more thoroughly than others, and absolute counts should be read in that light. Sites destroyed by development before survey are typically not represented; sites in heavily forested or upland terrain are sometimes under-recorded.
- NIAH coverage is broadly complete for the Republic of Ireland but the survey was conducted on a rolling county-by-county basis, and the most recent appraisal date varies. Buildings demolished or substantially altered after their original survey may still appear in the register; conversely, recent buildings of merit may not yet have been appraised.
- Logainm classification applies a deliberately conservative pattern-matching approach to the Irish-language townland forms. The classifier prioritises true positives over recall: a townland may carry a heritage signal that the classifier doesn’t recognise, particularly where the diagnostic root has been heavily anglicised or where the townland name draws on a less common term. The 60,000+ townland records and ~9,800 classified placenames give a substantial signal at barony scale, but individual townland names should be checked against Logainm directly for definitive interpretation.
- Period attribution. The chronological distribution reflects only those NMS sites that carry a recognised period attribution in the source data. Sites listed as “Unknown” period are excluded from the dated subset.
- Boundary changes. Some baronies have undergone minor boundary adjustments since their 19th-century definition; the OSi 2019 generalised boundaries used here are the current statutory definition and may differ slightly from historical maps in border areas.
- Bedrock geology is mapped at 1:100,000 scale, which means local variation within a barony — small pockets of different rock type, mineral veins, alluvium overlying bedrock — is generalised. The dominant-system and rocktype figures are area-weighted, so a barony reading “70% Carboniferous limestone” may still contain small but archaeologically important pockets of older or younger rock. Around 3% of GSI polygons do not match the lexicon and contribute no rocktype or system attribution.
Data sources
- National Monuments Service — Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) https://data.gov.ie/dataset/national-monuments-service-archaeological-survey-of-ireland
- National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) https://data.gov.ie/dataset/national-inventory-of-architectural-heritage-niah-national-dataset
- Logainm — Placenames Database of Ireland https://www.logainm.ie/
- Ordnance Survey Ireland — National Statutory Barony Boundaries 2019 https://data-osi.opendata.arcgis.com/
- EURODEM — European Digital Elevation Model https://www.mapsforeurope.org/datasets/euro-dem
- ESA WorldCover https://esa-worldcover.org/en
- Geological Survey Ireland — 1:100,000 Bedrock Geology https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/data-and-maps/Pages/Bedrock.aspx
Explore more: Search any of the 280 ROI baronies, browse by historical province, or read the methodology and data sources for the full Republic of Ireland Heritage Tool.