Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 22m N-S, 22m E-W
This is the southernmost of a pair of subcircular univallate raths which are located within 2.6m of each other on a very gentle S facing slope with extensive views in all directions. Lismore (KE044-059----) lies less than 100m to E. The bank averages 1.5m in height externally and c. 1m in height internally. Short sections of drystone facing are visible on its inner flank at 3 points, and it is possible that this was not much more extensive originally. It is nowhere more than .45m high. Short sections of drystone masonry are also present on the outer face of the bank at E and on the S side of the entrance. The gaps at NNE and S appear to be secondary features. A 2.5m wide gap at W is probably the original entrance. A low mound of earth and stone now lies in the centre of this gap.
The interior is occupied by a number of low stony mounds which have previously been interpreted as the remains of 5 houses (KAS). However, only the 2 northernmost mounds and the mound at SE can reasonably be interpreted as such. The former were apparently conjoined (KAS). The E hut measures 3.6m x 3m internally. The low mound in the SE part of the ringfort interior may have formed the W wall of a house which abutted the ringfort bank.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 380. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 6 August 2013