Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Lisbeg/An Lios Beag: This circular rath was levelled c. 1964. On the 2nd edition on the OS map it is enclosed by 1 complete bank with a 2nd bank, or possibly a fosse, around the N half only. Curran (no.83) noted 2 banks and a well-preserved fosse, but on an aerial photograph taken in 1949 (Ministry of Defence, V. 158/135), the site appears as a univallate enclosure, with the line of part of the 2nd bank being represented only by a curve in the adjacent field wall. According to Curran the enclosure was c. 30m in diameter. Though a souterrain has been noted at the site (local information; OSNB Kildrum, 30), no such structure was revealed when the site was levelled. Curran also noted a well with a never-failing spring of water. He described this as well-built and roofed 'but so low that access was obtained only by crawling on hands and knees'. Perhaps the souterrain (KE043-135001-) and the well were one and the same structure.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 714. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013