Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 20.7m N-S, 18m E-W
This is the northernmost of a pair of univallate raths set 2.6m apart on a very gentle S facing slope which commands an excellent view in all directions. The earthen enclosing bank is revetted with drystone masonry along most of its inner face. The outer face at N is also stone revetted for a distance of c. 8.5m and directly W of this the bank is composed entirely of stone for a short distance. The bank averages 1.6m in height externally and 1.1m internally. It is not clear which of the 4 gaps in the bank represent the original entrance. The N sides of the gaps at W and NE are lined with drystone walling.
Much of the interior is occupied by the ruins of 2 large rectangular houses.

(1) (KE044-057001-) The northernmost measures 9.8m E-W x 3.5m N-S internally and the walls are for the most part reduced to stony mounds. However, a single course of the inner and outer wall faces can be traced at a couple of points along the S wall and these indicate a wall thickness of 1.1m. There are opposed entrances in the N and S walls.

(2) (KE044-057002-) The southernmost house measures 6.4m E-W x 3.5m N-S internally. The S wall is formed by the bank of the ringfort and the other walls are better preserved than those of house (1). The wall faces are preserved in places to a height of .5m. The entrance lies in the centre of the N wall and is now defaced.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 381. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 6 August 2013