Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 21m
A univallate rath with 3 or possibly 4 stone huts in the interior. It is situated about 100m from the W shore of Brandon Bay on a SE facing slope. The earthen enclosing bank was revetted internally with drystone masonry which survives intact, to a maximum height of .6m, for only 2 short stretches; elsewhere its former presence is indicated by a spread of loose stones along the inner face of the bank. The outer face is similarly strewn with loose stones and may also have been revetted. On the upslope NW side the bank is 1.3m high internally and .45m externally; to SE it is .5m high internally and 2.3m externally. It averages 3.3m in width at base. The entrance faces E and is now represented by an ill-defined gap, 3.5m wide, which is much confused by loose stones. The remains of the huts occupy most of the interior of the site. The 3 definite structures extend across the centre of the enclosure from N to S and access between the E and W portions of the site is provided by a 1.4m wide gap between the 2 northernmost huts.
(1) (KE026-010001-) The largest hut, 4.95m in internal diameter, is centrally positioned in the interior. Its circular drystone wall survives to a maximum height of .9m and does not appear to have been corbelled. The entire NW quadrant is open and must formerly have housed the entrance. A secondary wall across the interior was probably erected to convert the ruined hut for use as an animal shelter or fold.
(2) (KE026-010002-) A 2nd hut to SSE is conjoined with both the central hut and the bank of the enclosure. It is greatly confused by collapse but the entrance appears to have been to NW. The wall is a maximum of .7m high and encloses an area 3.55m in diameter.
(3) (KE026-010003-) This abuts the enclosing bank at N. It now consists of a depression of indeterminate shape surrounded by a stony bank averaging .5m in height and 1.5m in width. The interior measures 4.1m NE-SW and 3.3m NW-SE.
(4) (KE026-010004-) A 4th hut may have abutted the SE side of hut (KE026-010003-). This is suggested by a short arc of walling, only 1.75m long and a single course high, which may mark the inner wall face of a circular structure.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 412. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013