Donaghmore Souterrain

Donaghmore Souterrain is a souterrain and National Monument located in County Louth, Ireland.^[1][2]

Donaghmore Souterrain

Uaimh Thalún an Domhnaigh Mhóir
Chart of the souterrain, from Thomas Wright's Louthiana
Shown within Ireland
Location	Donaghmore Kilcurly, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
Region	Castletown River Valley
Coordinates	54.002939°N 6.459380°W / 54.002939; -6.459380
Type	souterrain
History
Material	stone
Founded	between AD 700 and 1200
Cultures	Gaelic Ireland
Site notes
Archaeologists	Etienne Ryan
Condition	excellent
Ownership	private
Public access	yes
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Donaghmore Souterrain
Reference no.	526

Location

Donaghmore Souterrain is located 3.6 km (2.2 mi) west of Dundalk, near a cluster of houses.^[3][4]

History

Souterrains are cave-like structures built as places of refuge and storage, and in Ireland they date between the 8th and 12th centuries.^[5]

The souterrain was discovered in 1960 during the construction of a Louth County Council cottage.^[6] It was excavated by Etienne Rynne who found trenches, a pit, two post-holes, sherds of souterrain ware, a bronze pin, a whetstone and iron slag.^{[citation needed]}

Description

The souterrain at Donaghmore is a complex of tunnels lined with dry stone walls, floors and ceilings, with corbels and lintels. The ceilings are over 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in height and the total length of tunnel is 80 m (260 ft).^[7][8] It is largely dug into boulder clay but also into Silurian grit.^[9][10]