Donaghmore Souterrain

Donaghmore Souterrain is a souterrain and National Monument located in County Louth, Ireland.

Location
Donaghmore Souterrain is located 3.6 km west of Dundalk, near a cluster of houses.

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

The souterrain was discovered in 1960 during the construction of a Louth County Council cottage. 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.

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 in height and the total length of tunnel is 80 m. It is largely dug into boulder clay but also into Silurian grit.