Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. c. 22m
This cashel and souterrain are situated on a tract of level ground, on the lower S slopes of the coastal mountain ridge that borders the N side of Castlemaine Harbour. The entire site is densely overgrown and could not be inspected in any great detail. The present enclosure is roughly oval, but from E through N to NNW it is now bounded by a curving field wall which may follow the line of the original wall. For the remainder of its circumference the enclosure is bounded by a band of stone collapse which is 5.5m wide and up to 1m high.

The souterrain KE045-093001- is located in the NW part of the interior. The accessible portion consists of the E end of a drystone-built passage which measures 1.52m in width, 1.15m in height and at least 2.9m in length. The walls are slightly corbelled so that the passage width is reduced to .8m at roof level. Only the easternmost roof-slab remains in situ. The next roof-slab has collapsed inwards effectively blocking the passage and the original extent of the latter could not be determined. The E wall is slightly curved and a creepway leads E from its base. However, the opening is only .4m wide and .16m high and is blocked after .3m.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 541. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013