Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Ballymacdonnell, County Kerry, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballymacdonnell
- County
- Kerry
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.20450, -9.51604
- SMR number
- KE039-126----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
The location of this monument was incorrectly marked on the RMP for Co. Kerry (issued 1998). The correct location was identified by Laurence Dunne (pers. comm. 16 February 2015). The monument is situated in pasture that slopes gently to the E. It consists of the much degraded remains of a ringfort (external dims. 43m E-W by 41m N-S; internal dims. 26m E-W by 21m N-S) which are visible as a grass-covered earthen and stone bank reaching a max. height of 0.5m at the E or downslope side. There is no evidence of an external fosse. A number of bumps, hollows and other undulations most likely reflect the incomplete clearance of the monument sometime shortly before 1945 when an account of a visit was included in the minute book of the County Kerry Field Club for that year (Vol. 1, 31st March 1945, pp. 580-2). The report makes reference to four chambers which could be interpreted as either hut-sites or a souterrain or both (KE039-126001-). Given that the limestone bedrock is close to the surface the possibility that the monument might have been a cashel cannot be discounted. (Dunne 2015)
The attached image (KE039-126----_01.jpg), a view of the remains from the west, was taken on 6 February 2015, and is uploaded courtesy of Laurence Dunne.
Compiled by: Paul Walsh based on details kindly provided by Laurence Dunne (16 February 2015)
Date of upload: 17 February 2015
References
Dunne, L. 2015 Ringfort, KE039-126, Site survey report, Ballymacdonnell, Farranfore, Co. Kerry. Unpublished report (SMR file).
Nearby in the register
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
- Fulacht fiaunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Moated siteunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.