Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

Overall diam. 18m NW-SE
This site is located on the lower W slopes of Farraniaragh mountain, overlooking Ballinskelligs Bay to W. Only a portion of the S sector of its enclosing element is extant, and elsewhere an overlying field boundary follows the line of the original enclosure. A modern trackway runs adjacent to the inner face of the enclosure at E. The surviving stretch of the enclosing feature consists of a rubble core faced internally and externally with drystone masonry, now reduced to a single course. It measures .25m high and 3.1m wide and features a well-defined entrance gap, 1m wide, at SW. Two portals, averaging 1.2m high, mark its W side, while a slab set on edge forms the opposing side. A large lintel-like slab, at least 1.35m long, lies outside the entrance.
In the interior of the site at W are the possible remains of a hut (KE106-003006-), represented by a low stony mound of rectangular plan. A concentration of stone at E may be modern field clearance.
O'Connell noted a 'cromlech' (KE106-003004-) and an 'Ogham' (KE106-003005-) at this location (OPW), but neither feature can now be identified.

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

Date of upload: 29 July 2013