Drumena Cashel – ringfort and souterrain

Overview

What makes Drumena Cashel (Droim Éanach, “ridge of the birds”) worth the turn off the Castlewellan road is the souterrain: a stone-lined underground passage, built perhaps fourteen centuries ago, that you can still crawl into. The fort itself is an oval drystone enclosure about 30 metres across – roughly the size of a tennis court – its walls shoulder-height and up to 3.6 metres thick, three kilometres south-west of Castlewellan, County Down. There is no visitor centre, no ticket office and usually no one else about: just a lay-by, a gate into the field, and a local farmer’s sheep keeping the grass down inside the walls. On a clear day the Mourne Mountains fill the southern skyline, much as they did when the fort was built in the early Christian period (5th–9th century).

History & Archaeology

Cashels like this were fortified farmsteads, not military strongholds: a family enclosed its house, livestock and grain stores behind a stone wall that could be defended at a pinch against cattle-raiders. Drumena’s wall is drystone, shoulder-height and between 2.7 and 3.6 metres thick at the base – heavy enough to have stood for some 1,500 years.

The cashel was excavated in 1925–26, when the wall was partly rebuilt and the interior features cleared; the foundations of two stone houses were identified, letting you read the rough layout of a modest early medieval homestead. The outer wall is otherwise much as it was.

The reason most people come is the souterrain – an underground passage of stone slabs, roofed with lintels (some since replaced in concrete), in the south-western part of the enclosure. Its purpose is still argued over: cold storage for perishables, and a bolt-hole during raids, are the usual answers. The passage is low and narrow, and you have to crouch and crawl, which is exactly what makes it worth doing – there are not many ancient monuments in Ireland you can climb inside.

Exploring the Site

• Walk the enclosure walls – The oval circuit is about 30 metres across, the walls between 2.7 and 3.6 metres thick at the base and standing to shoulder height, which gives a fair sense of how much stone went into the place.
• Trace the house foundations – Inside the ringfort you can see the footings of a T-shaped house and a smaller building, clear enough to picture rooms and doorways.
• Explore the souterrain – The passage sits in the south-western part of the enclosure, the original way in by its south-east arm. The main passage is about seven feet high and runs northeast–southwest in fitted drystone. Bring a torch: the interior is dark, the air cool, and the lintelled roof is a direct look at early medieval building.
• Take in the views – Once inside the enclosure, turn toward the southern horizon. The Mourne Mountains rise sharply against the sky, providing the same vista that the original inhabitants would have surveyed while tending their livestock.

Visiting Information

Getting there – From Castlewellan, follow the B25 toward Hilltown. After about three kilometres, look for a brown heritage sign on the left. Turn down the short lane, park in the lay-by and walk the two-minute path across the grazed field to the cashel. The site is also reachable from the Newry-to-Castlewellan route (B8) with a right-hand turn at the Drumena signpost; the cashel lies roughly 250 m down the road.

Parking & Facilities – The postal address is 7 Moneyscalp Road, Kilcoo, Newry BT34 5JX. A small lay-by at the end of a short access lane parks three or four cars and is rarely busy. There are no toilets, café or any other facilities on site; the nearest are in Castlewellan town centre, a five-minute drive away.

Best time to visit – Spring and early summer bring a carpet of wildflowers to the surrounding fields, while the low-angle light of early morning or late afternoon highlights the stonework and offers excellent photography opportunities.

Weather & Footwear – The site is exposed; after rain the field can become slippery or muddy, so sturdy shoes or wellies are advisable.

Dogs – Dogs are welcome on the field and around the enclosure, but they are not permitted inside the souterrain for safety and conservation reasons.

Safety – The souterrain is dark and the floor uneven; a reliable torch (head-lamp preferred) and a steady pair of shoes are essential. Children should be supervised at all times.

Accessibility – The flat field approach is easy for most visitors, but the souterrain entrance is low and narrow, making it unsuitable for anyone with mobility impairments or a fear of confined spaces.

Duration – Most visitors spend 30–45 minutes walking the walls, examining the foundations and crawling through the souterrain. If you linger to enjoy the landscape or have a picnic on the grass, allow an extra half hour.

Nearby Attractions

Drumena Cashel makes an ideal morning stop before exploring the wider Mourne region. Consider adding these sites to your itinerary:

• Bagenal’s Castle – A 16th-century fortified house near Newry, set in a pleasant parkland.
• Castlewellan Forest Park – Just a short drive away, with walking trails, a lake and the canopy walk.
• Legannany Dolmen – A striking three-stone portal tomb on the slopes of Slieve Croob, about a 15-minute drive north and well worth pairing with the cashel.
• Mourne Mountains – The peaks are visible from the cashel and offer walking and climbing routes a short drive south.