Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 23.5m N-S, 22.9m E-W
A univallate rath with souterrain situated on an E facing slope on the W side of the valley of the Finglas river. There are good, clear views in all directions along the valley and N to Tralee Bay. The earthen enclosing bank is faced internally with drystone masonry which survives to a maximum height of 1m but which has collapsed entirely in parts. Externally the bank ranges in height from .8m on the upslope side to 2.3m on the downslope side. A field fence runs along the crest of the bank in the N sector and collapse from this has obscured the outline of the bank in the interior; the outer face is also greatly disturbed. There are 2 possible entrances through the bank. To NW, directly S of the field fence, the bank is reduced in height to .3m and its stone facing turns outwards and lines the S edge of the gap for c. 0.8m; it is not certain that this was an entrance. A more substantial break, 2.1m wide, occurs at SSE.
A stone-lined depression, a little N of centre, marks the location of a souterrain which appears to continue in a NE direction but which is not now accessible. A probable air-vent opens onto the outer face of the bank at NE, c. 0.6m above the present ground surface.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 357. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 6 August 2013