Penitential station

The National Monuments Service's description

Kilgobnet/Cill Ghobnait : KE052-003001- lies within 300m of the sea-cliffs less than a mile N of Dunquin Harbour. It is comprised of a sub-circular enclosure, located at the E side of a larger enclosure which may simply be a later field. The only features visible within the former are 2 large penitential cairns, but several possible house foundations are discernible at the W side of the large enclosure. About 100m to SW, on the side of an immense outcrop of rock, there is a stone cross, and Tobar Ghobnait (KE052-005----) lies c. 120m to W of this again. Rounds are still performed at each of the monuments on February 11th (St. Gobnait's feast day).

The smaller enclosure measures 19.3 x 18m internally. Its enclosing bank survives to a maximum height of 1.1m and is intermittently faced with stone. Access is provided by narrow breaks in the bank at SE and WSW. Much of the S half of the enclosure is occupied by the 2 oval flat-topped cairns of stone which measure 7.6 x 6.3m x 1.65m in height (KE052-003002-) and 7.5 x 5.4m x 1.7m in height (KE052-003004-). According to Curran, the smaller cairn (KE052-003004-) conceals a clochaun. However, though it is possible that the cairns overlie earlier structures, much of their make-up is undoubtedly due to the accumulation of small stones deposited by pilgrims and there is now no evidence of structural remains.

See attached photograph of Kilgobnet Penitential Station, taken 1947 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.18.00078 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16796.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 838. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 14 April 2022

References

Cuppage, J. 1986 Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.