Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. C. 44m N-S, c. 42m E-W.
This site forms part of the boundary between 2 large fields on the lower E slopes of the narrow valley that extends NE from Dingle town. The enclosing feature is now of very mixed construction, being comprised of sections of stone wall, sections of stone-revetted earthen bank, and some short sections of earthen bank. It is probable that the site was originally an earthen-banked ringfort, and that the stone wall and stone revetment are later features. Where best-preserved, the bank is 1.8 to 2.5m high externally and 1.3m high internally. There is a 2.07m wide entrance gap through the wall at SW. On the 1st edition of the OS map, a small circular structure, probably a clochaun KE043-231002-, was marked at the SE side of the site, but this no longer survives. There is no trace either of the 'cave' KE043-231003- noted on the Fair Plan. A quernstone now lies on the wall at SE.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 313. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 6 August 2013