Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Astee West, County Kerry, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Astee West
- County
- Kerry
- Country
- Ireland
- Coordinates
- 52.55097, -9.56585
- SMR number
- KE002-052----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Internal diameter 37m SSW-NNE, 38m E-W
Situated SW of a univallate rath (155) this site has a good view in all directions. This univallate rath has a fairly well-defined enclosing earthen bank, which is 2m high externally, 1.6m above the interior and 5m wide at its base. A fosse which is to be noted to the S measures 4.4m in width and .7m below the surrounding land. Situated immediately NE of this rath is a sub-square enclosure. Charles Smith described a square bawn in 1756 which was situated near the village of Astee; in 1909 Westropp could find no trace of it. This enclosure (KE002-053----) has rounded corners, measures 22m N-S and 22m E-W, and rises to between .2m to 1m above the surrounding land. Possibly this is the bawn that Smith described, stating that it was built 'as a place of strength to preserve cattle from being carried off by an enemy'.
The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 154. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 2 August 2013
References
ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).
Nearby in the register
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.