Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 42m SE-NW, 33m SW-NE.
Lisrobert/Lios Roibeáird or Lios an Bhúlaeraigh: Situated on a very gentle S facing slope overlooking Trabeg, this site consists of a single earthen bank and fosse enclosing a roughly oval area which contains the remains of a souterrain and a hut-site. The fosse is an average of 5m wide and 1.3m deep, and traces of drystone facing are preserved for 2 short stretches along its outer flank. The bank is an average of 3m high above the bottom of the fosse, 1.3m high internally, and 6.7m wide at base. Parts of its inner face are revetted with drystone masonry which stands to a maximum height of 1.3m but is generally no more than 2 or 3 courses high. This stone facing may formerly have been continuous, and it is possible that sections of it were robbed during the construction of the road which skirts the W section of the site. The causewayed entrance at S is lined with drystone masonry on its E side.
The interior is occupied by a series of E-W cultivation ridges. An L-shaped stony mound in the centre may be the remains of the clochaun noted on the Fair Plan and described in the OSNB (Garfinny, 24) as a 'circular heap of small stones'. The present landowner discovered a socketed bronze axehead (NMI 1944:275) in this mound of stones, but previous accounts erroneously give the souterrain as its find spot. The souterrain, located SE of the hut, consists of a sub-circular drystone-built chamber which opens off the NW side of a 2nd chamber or passage marked by an irregular depression. The accumulation of household rubbish in the depression probably obscures the entrances to the other small passages which apparently led off it (local information). Though inaccessible, the intact chamber can be viewed through the entrance, and local information indicates that it is roofed by a single large slab and contains a stone seat. It is about 1.5 to 2m high and measures c. 1m x 2m at base.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 317. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 6 August 2013