Cahermacnaughten
Cahermacnaughten (also Cahermacnaghten ; Irish Cathair Mhic Neachtain ) is a dun in the Burren in County Clare in Ireland , where the Brehon Laws were written in the 16th century . Caher is the Anglicized form of the Irish word " cathair " (which in some regions of the island means Dun or Steinfort).
The ring fort, whose remaining walls , which have fallen into ruins from the Iron Age , are up to three meters high, was the home of a hereditary legal circle , the O'Davoran clan , hence also called O'Davoranstown. From Cahermacnaughten, the O'Davoran helped to preserve the previously unwritten Brehon tradition in western Ireland. The dun is about 30 meters in diameter. Inside there is a pile of earth from centuries that covers the foundations of buildings whose outlines can still be recognized.
The Brehon Laws were the old legal system of Ireland. The texts are of great historical importance because, in addition to the wealth of legal details, they also contain extensive notes on life in the Burren. The fact that these manuscripts were found confirms that some of the Burren ring forts were occupied until the late Middle Ages.
source
- Ancient laws of Ireland. Volume 2: Senchus Mor, Part II: Law of distress (completed). Laws of hostage-sureties, fosterage, saerstock tenure, daerstock tenure, and of social connexions. Published under direction of the commissioners for publishing the Ancient Laws and Institutes of Ireland. Thom et al., Dublin et al. 1869.
literature
- Ronald G. Asch : Cultural conflict and law. Ireland, Common Law and the Ancient Constitution. In: Ius Commune. 21, 1994, ISSN 0579-2428 , pp. 169-212, online (PDF; 4.86 MB) .
- George Cunningham: Burren Journey . Ballyvaughan; reprinted in 1993
- Peter Harbison : Guide to the Naional Monuments in the Republic of Ireland Gill and Macmillan, Dublin 1992 ISBN 0-7171-1956-4 p. 38
Web links
- Description Engl. and picture
- photos
- Cahermacnaghten on a historical map
Coordinates: 53 ° 2 ′ 45.5 " N , 9 ° 11 ′ 54.5" W.