Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. 16.9m N-S, 16.6m E-W
This circular caher is located on the summit of a steep-sided rocky knoll on the E side of the Coomnahorna river valley, overlooking Darrynane Bay to SW. The enclosing wall is roughly faced internally and externally with large slabs, and features a rubble core. It is much collapsed at NW and S, where the debris extends down the sides of the knoll. The wall survives to a maximum height externally of 2.5m at NE, and averages 2.95m wide. Its inner face is generally flush with the level of the site's interior. A well-defined entrance, 1.7m wide, is located at NE. Three portal slabs flank its coursed drystone sides, two on the N side and one at S; these average 1.25m high, .7m wide and .3m thick. Two large irregular slabs block the inner side of the entrance. Much loose stone is scattered throughout the level interior of the caher.

Cave: An opening to a stone-built souterrain (KE106-027001-), .8m x .5m, occurs close to the centre of the caher and gives access to a passage which extends NE-SW for a distance of 3.5m. Measuring .6m wide and .5m high, this passage features roughly coursed drystone walls and is roofed with large slabs. A small semicircular chamber opens off its SE side-wall at the NE end. This is 1m wide, .6m high and 1.3m deep, and is roofed with three lintels. The SW end of the passage opens into a second passage which extends 5.2m NW-SE. A rise in floor level blocks its NW end.

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

Date of upload: 29 July 2013