Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 36m N-S, 32.1m E-W
A univallate rath situated on the low-lying land S of Smerwick Harbour. The earthen enclosing bank is c. 2.4 to 3m wide at base and rises a maximum of 2.15m above the interior and 3.75m above the external fosse. This latter is 3.7 to 4.2m wide and up to 2.15m deep below the external ground level. An 11m long section of the bank at SE has been removed and replaced by a modern stone wall and a wire fence. The entrance gap faces N and is c. 1.7 to 2m wide. A large stone, set into the E side of the gap, spans the width of the bank c. 0.56m above the threshold. The fosse is very faint at this point and disappears completely for a short distance to W. A short stretch of bank or wall, surmounting the outer edge of the fosse at W, is part of a field wall (OS map, 2nd edition), the remainder of which has been removed.
Much of the W half of the site is occupied by 2 parallel linear depressions which extend almost the full length of the interior in a NW-SE direction. The easternmost is from 1 to 2m wide and no more than .4m deep. At its N end it broadens into an oval hollow, c. 4m x 2m x .4m deep. The S end of the W depression arcs W around a mound of stones and earth which measures c. 7m in diameter and .6m in height. It is not clear what these features represent. However, O'Sullivan (1931, 527) mentions the discovery, c. 1850-1860, of a passage connecting 2 of the forts on Mr. John MacDonnell's land (KE042-106---- and KE042-105----), and it is possible that the internal features here are related to this.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 410. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013