Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. c. 30.6m N-S, c. 31m E-W
This site is shown as a circular univallate enclosure on the first edition of the OS map, while on the second edition map it is indicated only by a curving field boundary. Its present condition is virtually the same as that shown on the later map. The E sector of the enclosing bank is preserved beneath an overgrown field boundary. It averages 1.5m high above external ground level, 1.6m wide at base and .65m high internally. The W sector is levelled, but a faint scarp indicates its former outline. The site was named 'Lissgubnet' on the OS Fair Plan. It is located on a slight rise SW of Kilgobnet early ecclesiastical site (KE065-042----), just S of Kilgobnet village.

Portion of an ogham stone (KE065-109001-) was discovered before 1869 in a souterrain (KE065-109----) in a rath close to Kilgobnet village (Brash 1879, 238). It measured 3 foot 4 inches (1m) x 1 foot 3 inches (.38m) at top, and narrowed to 1 foot 1 inch (.32m) x 4 inches (.1m) at base. The stone was subsequently used as a door lintel, but when last recorded, in 1910, it was lying in a manure heap in the village (Macalister 1945, 207). The inscription, along two opposing angles and across the top of the stone, reads:

ANNVENI TEGG[ . . .

Spalling had obscured the remainder of the inscription. While the precise location of the rath from which this stone derived is unknown, it appears likely to be this example.

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. 524. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 29 July 2013