Entrenchment

Situated on a triangular grass-covered promontory (int. dims. 63m ENE-WSW; 12m NNW-SSE) jutting SW from the mainland and defended by three earthen banks with two intervening fosses. The defences consist of the inner bank (Wth 9.5m; int. H 1.65m; ext. H 4m) and outer flat-bottomed fosse (Wth of base 3.7m), a low central bank (Wth 5.9m) and fosse (Wth of base 2.2m), and an outer bank (Wth 7.5m; ext. H 1.8m). Entrances occur towards the centre of the outer bank and at the S end of the inner bank (average Wth 2.7m). Power (1906a, 24-5) describes stone on the inner face of the bank, but this was absent when Westropp (1914-16, 216) described it. Power, Rev. P. (1906a) The place-names of the Decies, WAJ 9, 12-39, 80-106, 154- Westropp, T. J. (1914-16) Fortiified headlands and castles on the south coast of Munster. PRIA C vol. 32, 188-227. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 10 June 2011