What is recorded here

Lisduff, the black ringfort, is a rare double-walled earthwork where two massive banks and two steep ditches enclose a circular space thirty-four metres across. It stands on rising land in County Kerry, commanding a wide view of the countryside and forcing anyone who approaches to climb through layered defenses rather than walk past. The scale suggests a settled community confident enough to build deep, wide barriers, while the local fairy-fort name hints that later people saw the shape as belonging to another kind of resident entirely.

Internal diameter 31m N-S, 34m E-W Lisduff/Lios Dubh (black ringfort). This bivallate ringfort is situated on rising land and has an extensive view of the surrounding countryside. It consists of an inner circular area enclosed by two well-defined banks and two steep fosses. The inner bank is on average 6.3m wide at the base and rises to a maximum of 1.2m above the interior and 2.7m above the fosse. The enclosing inner fosse is steep and U shaped and varies from 1.6m-3.8m in width. The outer earthen enclosing bank is 7m in width at the base and rises to 2.4m above the inner fosse and a maximum of 3.4m above the outer fosse. The outer fosse is also well defined, steep and U shaped. It is cut to the SW to W by a track; elsewhere it is 1.8m-3m in width and 1m-2.2m below the height of the surrounding land. The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 490. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 2 August 2013 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 10/1976).

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.