Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. c. 26 to 28m
This site is located on the lower W slopes of Ballysitteragh mountain, overlooking the broad level plain through which the Milltown river flows S towards Dingle Harbour. It is bisected by the townland boundary wall, and the S half of the roughly circular enclosure is virtually destroyed, while the N half is only poorly preserved. The remains of the S half consist of a slightly raised platform covered with large boulders cleared from the adjacent field. The N half is enclosed by an irregular stony bank, a maximum of .7m high and c. 2.3m wide. That the site is a cashel and not a rath is suggested by the stony nature of the enclosing bank and by the fact that it is named 'Caher' on the Fair Plan.
A slight circular hollow, c. 4.2m in diameter, marks the site of the clochaun marked on the OS maps. The townland boundary wall curves around the NW half of this feature and probably follows the line of the original wall of the hut. It may also incorporate part of the latter as its lower courses are distinctly different from the upper courses, being neater in construction and comprised of smaller stones.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 572. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013