Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

This cashel (KE036-096----), containing the remains of 3 stone huts, is located in rough, rocky pastureland a little below the summit of the N peak of the ridge that separates Glanmane from Glannagalt. It commands a magnificent view across Tralee Bay to Kerry Head and Tralee, as well as along the valley of the Glannagalt river. The enclosing wall is poorly preserved and has disappeared almost entirely from the S half of the site. In the NE quadrant it has been reduced to a band of grass-grown collapse, but in the NW quadrant both the inner and outer wall faces are traceable almost continuously. The roughly constructed drystone wall is 1.2 to 1.3m wide and up to .75m high externally and .9m high internally.

(1) (KE036-096001-) The most substantial hut is located in the centre of the enclosure. It was originally either oval or circular, but the S half of the wall is completely ruined and its outline is not discernible. It is c. 4m E-W x 3m N-S in diameter internally. The N half of the wall stands to a height of 1.1m and is 1.5m wide; there is no evidence of corbelling. The small lintelled chamber, built against the inner face, is probably a shelter for sheep or lambs.

(2) (KE036-096002-) Directly S of the former hut is a 2nd, much ruined example. A roughly circular area, c. 3m in diameter, is enclosed by a band of stone collapse up to . 8m high. The inner wall-face survives to a height of .45m in the E sector and a short stretch of the outer face is visible in the same sector indicating a wall thickness of c. 1.3m. The entrance was probably in the N or S sectors where the collapse is less dense.

(3) (KE036-096003-) A circular depression, c. 3.5m in diameter, adjoins the E side of hut 2. It is surrounded by a low band of grass-grown collapse up to 1.3m high.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 566. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013