Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Marked on the OS maps as a circular enclosure, this site was located on elevated ground adjacent to the confluence of the Gaddagh and Laune rivers. It had been levelled by the early twentieth century, and an earth-tunnelled souterrain in it was described by Cooke (1906, 2).
The accessible portion of the souterrain (KE065-006001-) consisted of three chambers linked by creepways, and access was gained through the collapsed roof of the N chamber. Of approximately oval plan, this chamber measured 7 feet (2.13m) long by 4 feet 10 inches (1.48m) wide and was aligned NW-SE. Its original height was approximately 5 feet (1.52m), and its floor occurred about 7 feet (2.13m) below ground level. Towards its S end a narrow creepway, over 2 feet (.61m) long and 18 inches (.46m) high, led to a second, subrectangular chamber which measured 12 feet (3.66m) long, 5 feet 6 inches (1.7m) wide and 5 feet (1.52m) high. This chamber was aligned NW-SE, and a creepway led from its S end to a third chamber. This creepway extended for 5 feet (1.52m) and measured 19 inches (.48m) in both width and height. The third chamber was aligned E-W, and its E end was blocked by collapse. It measured 4 feet (1.22m) wide and at least 6 feet (1.83m) long.
See also: COOLROE (KE065-094----), FARRANIARAGH (KE106-042----).

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 697. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 29 July 2013