What is recorded here

Clochan in Baile Na Habha is a ruined stone chamber on the most inaccessible mainland terrace of Corca Dhuibhne, where St Brendan is said to have rested before his sea voyage. Three or four families still lived beside it at the start of the 19th century, suggesting the chamber served ordinary people as well as monks. One hut was later bricked into a sheep shelter, proving that even sacred ruins become useful when hunger or weather arrives.

Fohernamanagh/Fothair na Manach: The ecclesiastical nature of this settlement (KE025-001001-) is only indirectly suggested by its name and by its traditional association with St. Brendan. He is said both to have founded a monastery here (O'Donoghue 1895, 327-8) and to have sojourned here for a while before embarking on his legendary sea voyage (An Seabhac 1939, 132). Its remote location (it is undoubtedly the most inaccessible settlement on mainland Corca Dhuibhne) also suggests a monastic settlement. However, despite its isolation and the difficulty of access, the valley is reputed to have been occupied at the beginning of the 19th century by 3 or 4 families (Power 1923, 75-6), and it is not clear to what extent the present form of the settlement is attributable to this recent occupation. The NW half of the relatively level terrace to NE of the enclosure is occupied by a mound of collapse which incorporates the remains of at least 4 drystone clochauns (KE025-001003-, KE025-001008-; KE025-001009-; KE025-001010-), 3 of which appear to have been conjoined. The S hut (KE025-001009-) was probably circular originally but it has been modified for use as a sheep-shelter by the construction of a straight wall across its S side. The corbelled wall stands to a maximum height of 1. 1m and a large wall recess occurs at NE. A single course of the NW corner of a rectangular structure is visible above the collapse to NE of the last hut. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 826. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

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