Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

On the lower slopes of Ballydavid Head, overlooking Smerwick Harbour and the level plain drained by the Feohanagh river, are the very ruined remains of what would appear to be a small cashel with 3 hut-sites in the interior. The heaps of collapsed stones are extremely confused but an enclosing wall is vaguely discernible along the W perimeter. This is now represented by a bank of small stones with some intermittent stretches of facing still surviving. The outline of 3 hut-sites, abutting the inner edge of the wall, are also traceable. The largest of these is circular with an internal diameter of c. 5m, but the others are less clear. Towards the centre of the present remains is a low mound of stones; its function is unclear but it may simply be the upcast from a depression which occupies the E portion of the site. Though the surrounding field is named Gorta-killeen/Gort an chillín, there is no visible trace of a church or burial ground nor any surviving tradition of such. The site is known locally as a 'lios' and reputedly contained a souterrain.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 558. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013