What is recorded here

Lios na mBó Bhán is a univallate rath on a low ridge above the Owenmore valley in County Kerry. Its inner bank stands 1.55 metres high and is revetted with drystone masonry, while dense vegetation still chokes the interior. The name suggests white cows, perhaps a herdsman’s camp or a boundary marker for pasture. Whatever it was, it watched the river valley for centuries before becoming a green mound again.

Lios na mBó Bhán: A univallate rath situated immediately below the crest of the low ridge which separates the valleys of the Owenmore and Scorid rivers. It commands an excellent view W over the former. The entire monument is densely overgrown and the interior is for the most part impenetrable. The inner bank is well-preserved, but the fosse and outer bank are visible for a little less than half the circumference to SW. The outer bank is a maximum of .45m high externally and .9m high above the base of the fosse; it is 2.2m wide. The fosse is 2.75m wide and rises 1.75m to the crest of the inner bank. This latter is up to 4.7m wide and 1.55m high internally. The inner face is revetted with drystone masonry. A field wall runs along the top of the SW half of the bank and loose stones are scattered along the crest and flanks of the remainder, perhaps suggesting that the field wall was formerly continuous. There is no clear evidence for an entrance, but this may be concealed by the vegetation or by one of the field walls which radiate out from the site. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 499. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

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