Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Ballydonohoe, County Kerry, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballydonohoe
- County
- Kerry
- Country
- Ireland
- Coordinates
- 52.49332, -9.56029
- SMR number
- KE005-070----
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 27m N-S, 25m E-W
This bivallate rath is situated at the top of a large boggy field. To the NE lies Toberboy holy well (KE005-071----), while immediately N lies a possible bawn (KE005-069----).
The rath consists of a circular inner area enclosed by a well-defined inner bank, exterior fosse and a much-levelled outer bank. The inner bank rises to a height of 1.4m above the fosse and .8m above the interior. The enclosing fosse is U shaped and varies between 2m-4.8m in width. The outer enclosing bank measures c 1m above the height of the surrounding land and .8m above the fosse. As this enclosing bank circles the site, it forms a causeway at the S end, 7m in width and over 20m in length. Immediately N of the ringfort is a sub-rectangular enclosure, possibly a bawn (KE005-069----). It is cut in half by a fieldbank running E-W. All that remains of this enclosure is a raised area measuring 17m x 14m and between .5m-1.4m above the height of the surrounding land. An opening of c 4m appears to the S, and just inside this opening is a small depression 3.4m. x 3.6m. This bawn could possibly be connected to the ringfort.
The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 255. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 2 August 2013
Nearby in the register
- Bawnunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.