Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. c. 18m
This poorly-preserved univallate rath contains traces of 2 huts. It is sited on level ground, with an open outlook in all directions, and the surrounding field is in the process of being reclaimed. The earthen enclosing bank is no longer traceable along the W sector. Clearance debris has been piled up against the field wall which ran immediately outside the line of the bank here (2nd edition OS map). The best preserved portion of the bank, at E, is faced internally with drystone masonry which survives to a maximum height of .9m. A short stretch of facing occurs on the outer face and loose stones strewn elsewhere on the outer face suggest that this was formerly more extensive. The stone-faced entrance gap at E is 1.4m wide. The remains of a circular stone hut lie a little S of centre. It is 4m in diameter internally and the drystone-built wall stands only 2 courses high. The outline of the NE half of the structure is no longer discernible. A short stretch of the outer face was visible until recently and this indicated a wall width of 2.15m. A short arc of the wall of a 2nd hut lies immediately inside the enclosing bank at NNE.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 475. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013