Cliff-edge fort in Knockeens (carbery West (w.d) By., Skull Par.) — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Knockeens holds a D-shaped cliff-edge fort where the western boundary has fallen into Dunmanus Bay, leaving a scarp, stone wall and outer bank still visible in rough pasture. The surviving castle remains at the southern cliff edge suggest the fort remained useful long after its shape first cut the coastline. Whatever life moved through that narrow coastal chamber did so beside an open sea, watching ships or waiting out storms while the cliff took the fort back a little at a time.

In rough pasture on cliff edge (eroding), overlooking Dunmanus Bay to SSW. D-shaped raised area (32.2m N-S; 21.7m E-W) truncated by cliff edge to W defined N->S by scarp (H 1.2m) topped by stone wall (H 1m); external fosse (D 0.8m). Outer arc defined by narrow stone bank (H 0.8m) concentric with and 26.8m from scarp. Radial wall (ENE-WSW) joins two enclosing elements. Remains of castle (CO139-014002-) survive where inner wall reaches cliff edge to S. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

A D-shaped early-medieval ringfort on a cliff edge, likely dating to the 6th–10th centuries, with a stone wall and scarp. Local tradition associates such sites with fairy dwellings, and the fort's exposed, dramatic location may have reinforced its mystical reputation.

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