Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in An Toileán Buí

Internal diam. 23m N-S, 28m E-W This fine example of a bivallate rath is located in boggy pasture a short distance N of the Inny river, about 500m SW of KE080-060----. Mature trees crown both of its banks and a series of E-W cultivation ridges occupies its roughly circular interior. The inner bank averages 1.15m high internally, 3.4m high externally and is up to 5.5m in basal width. The flat-bottomed fosse averages 3.1m wide and spoil from both banks has accumulated in several places along its base. The outer bank rises 1.6m above the fosse and is 1.5m high externally. It is 4.3m wide. A shallow outer fosse, 1.6m wide and .35m deep on average, is extant only along the N sector. Intermittent drystone walling revets both faces of both banks, particularly at E and S. A causeway across the inner fosse links gaps through both banks at E; the inner gap is 2.8m wide, the outer 1.7m. The level interior is somewhat raised above surrounding ground level. 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. 522. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

A bivallate earthen ringfort in An Toileán Buí, likely dating to the early medieval period, is traditionally associated with fairy lore, as suggested by its common name. The site, surrounded by mature trees and situated near the Inny River, reflects typical settlement patterns of early Irish farming communities.