Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 29.6m
This roughly circular univallate rath is located high on the E side of the ridge that separates Glannagalt from Glanmane, and it commands a magnificent view along the valleys and across the coastal plain and Tralee Bay as far as the Magharee islands and Kerry Head. The surrounding land is rough, scrubby pasture at present, but traces of cultivation ridges in the area indicate that it was once more intensively cultivated. The site is enclosed by an earthen bank and fosse, but only a 1.2m high scarp survives in the NE quadrant, the interior being raised above the external ground level on this downslope side. The bank ranges from .25 to 1.6m in height internally on the upslope and downslope sides respectively, and from .3 to 1.1m high externally. The fosse is c. 2m wide at base and its outer flank merges with the natural hillslope without any clear break. As the bank is elsewhere continuous, the entrance must have been located in the NE quadrant. A small shelter for shepherds or animals has been constructed in the fosse at S. In the interior, a sub-rectangular, drystone-lined depression abuts the bank at NNE. It measures .94m x 1.48m x .71m deep and is enclosed by a stony bank no more than .3m high. The function of this feature is not known.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 437. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013