Leacht

The National Monuments Service's description

Leacht described in 1996 as follows; 'This structure is partly overlain by the N wall and NE angle of the larger oratory [KE104A001039-]. Rectangular in plan, it averages 0.6m high and is 3.65m long, NE-SW. Constructed of horizontally laid slabs, Dunraven noted that its SW end was renovated by lighthouse personnel (1875, 34). The upper surface of the leacht is divided into two rectangular areas by coping slabs, each of which is covered in quartz. A masonry join is visible on its N side, indicating that it was constructed in two phases. A small slab cross [KE104A001034-] stands on the leacht at NE, while a large, inscribed, stone [KE104A001054-] stands at its SW end. Two large paving slabs, located immediately in front of the SW side of the leacht, feature pocked Latin crosses' (O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, 278-90, no. 948 (12)).

See attached LiDAR image of monastery with leacht numbered 3, taken from Bourke, Hayden and Lynch 2011, 7.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 7 March 2022

References

O'Sullivan, A. and Sheehan, J. 1996 The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry. Cork University press.

Bourke, E., Hayden, A. and Lynch, A. 2011 Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry: the monastery and South Peak. Archaeological stratigraphic report: excavations 1986–2010 (E338; 90E34; 93E195). Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Dublin.

Dunraven, E. the Earl of 1875 Notes on Irish Architecture, 2 vols. London. George Bell and Sons.