Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 31m.
A circular univallate rath situated on a slight SSW facing slope. The fosse is 1m deep below the external ground level, 3 to 4m wide and 1.5m deep below the crest of the bank; it is no longer traceable along the SE sector. The bank is a maximum of 2m high externally and 1m high internally. Parts of its inner flank are faced with drystone masonry. The stone facing visible on its outer flank at ENE probably relates to the field fence which formerly skirted the site at this point (2nd edition OS map). The entrance gap faces ESE. The low mound which occurs in the field outside the entrance may consist of field clearance debris.
The SW part of the interior is occupied by the foundations of a drystone-built rectangular house measuring 7.3m E-W x 2.2m N-S; the walls are now c. 0.75m high. Another possible structure abuts the bank at N, one side formed by the ringfort bank, the other by a low stone wall 12.7m long E-W. The internal area thus defined is c. 2.3m wide and there are traces of an internal division at its mid-point.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 286. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 6 August 2013