Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 22.7m E-W, 26.2m N-S
A univallate rath situated on the lower, S facing slopes of Beenmore, overlooking the level, marshy plain drained by the Feohanagh river and its tributaries. The earthen bank rises up to 2.5m in height and is c. 3.4m wide. The external fosse is c. 0.75m deep and 2.4m wide. The external bank or wall visible along the NW sector is part of the field boundary system shown on the OS maps. This crosses the fosse at W and continues, along the SW sector, as a drystone revetment to the outer face of the bank; a ramp or path runs along the top of the revetment below the crest of the bank. The enclosure abuts the roadway to N and a short stretch of the fosse is excluded from the field but visible along the verge of the road. The drystone revetment walling visible along much of the inner face of the bank, to a maximum height of 1.5m, may be an original feature of the site. An entrance gap occurs at ENE.
What appears to be the gable end of a rectangular house has been set back into the inner face of the bank at N. It is 3.4m wide and 2m high; the adjoining side wall to W is represented by only low foundations, c. 14.4m long, 1.15m wide and .5m high.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 455. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013