This “cairn” is just off the N8 at Johnstown on the main Dublin-Cork road. Recently Ive been passing this way quite a bit and wondered about the funny looking trees on top of the hill (They are pretty distinctive from the road).
I checked the OS map and it looked to me as the trees corresponded to the position of a cairn so I decided to take a look.
Head into Johnstown and turn left and then left again where there is a sign for the Spahill. It should be easy to find from here.
I’m not sure about the cairn itself. It seems to be a tree covered mound. The mound itself isnt very distinctive. However the fact that a wall has been built around it to protect it says to me that it is of some importance locally.
It may be possible that the wall around it was built from some of the material from the cairn. I dont know.
There is also a funny feature in the wall. A little “portal” no more than half a metre high. Maybe its for letting wild animals (badgers?) in and out of the enclosure.
I imagined it was left for the little people to get back into their Sidh!
location_on
photo
ondemand_video
forum
description
link
It is our tribal territory landmark. Possibly you will find our chevron mark, it is an arrow pointing down. Later we used mostly limestone.
Possibly Seamus an Carraig, I am not sure. David O Bruidar used the term Marquis Seamus Carrick. After Cromwell many families formed an expedition to return here; Walsh, Morifsy, Phelans and many others followed by waves of displaced Sept cousins of english settlements.
There should be a pathway from the Killoshulan ruins to SpaHill Road. The square tower at Sweeny ranch appears to be authentic. The Griffith's 1849 Clomantagh families it was the old northern sanctuary.
Our Northern Ossary Catty Walsh born 1770 from Tullaroan / Trenchardstown. Architecture like Clara Castle same style find it's way into Tipperary after Cromwell we still worked rock but were not prominent. We survived by being diplomatic and peaceful.
Unlike other maps searching MapCarta has been very helpful