2011:530 - TONROE, Roscommon

An investigation and survey were made of the souterrain at Tonroe, which lies within a ringfort. The enclosure is raised above the surrounding pasture, with little indication of a bank and only a slight suggestion of an external ditch in its south-eastern quadrant. The souterrain is located in the south-south-west. It was recorded previously by the DAHG as a lintelled passage 4.4m long, aligned north-east/south-west and expanding imperceptibly into a chamber, 1.1m wide and 1.15m high, with an air-vent in the back wall. The full extent of the site was exposed in 2011. It consists of a tapered passage 4.8m long, a creep 1.6m long, and a chamber 5m long. In plan, the passage curves to the east. It is entered by a set of five narrow steps, which drop 1.6m to a boulder clay floor. A course of vertically set stone 0.8m in height represents the lowest building course throughout the souterrain, and horizontally laid smaller stones form the upper courses, which also taper inwards to facilitate a lintelled roof. Lintel stones survive in situ over the creep and chamber. A small amount of blackened soil observed between the stones of the entrance steps relates to a former occupation horizon.

2 Vale Terrace, Lower Dargle Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow