What is recorded here
Fairy fort in Lisnagrave, County Kerry: a 30 m earthen ring on a ridge, double-banked when last described, now halved by lost outer works, with conifers hiding a stone passage inside and a stone row waiting eighty metres southeast. It faced the Paps of Dana like a chair set for company. What the ring kept, who walked its edge or entered that dark passage, has gone quiet; the land still holds the shape of their choice.
In pasture, on top of a ridge, with views SE to The Paps of Dana. A circular area (diam. 30m) defined by a low earthen bank (Wth 4.9m; int. H 0.35m; ext. H 0.5m). The interior is obscured mainly by coniferous trees. According to local information, the intervening fosse (Wth c. 3m; D c. 1.5m) and outer bank (Wth c. 3m; H c. 2m) were removed in the 1980s. This rath was described in the 1840s as 'very large' and 'double ringed' (OSNB, Kilcummin, no. 3, 36). There is a Man-made underground passage (KE068-015001-) in the S half of the interior. A stone row (KE068-110----) lies c. 80m to the SE.
Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork.
Date of upload: 31 January 2011
A fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Lisnagrave is a circular early-medieval defensive or domestic site, likely dating to between the 5th and 10th centuries AD. Local tradition associates such sites with fairy dwellings, and the fort's elevated position suggests strategic or symbolic significance.
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
Coolbaun (Site of)Fairy fort / earthen ringfort · 1101 yd
Enclosure in CarranEnclosure · 1214 yd
Beheenagh Br.Bridge · 1.1 mi
Six Mile Br.Bridge · 1.3 mi
BarraduffMemorial · 1.3 mi
Killeen MountainMountain / peak · 2.0 mi
The Paps WestMountain / peak · 2.6 mi
Killaha Castle (in Ruins)Castle, tower house · 3.8 mi
Nohaval WoodWood · 5.5 mi
Killarney First World War MemorialMemorial · 8.4 mi
Jaunting ToursHeritage attraction · 8.4 mi
Castlelough BayBay · 8.4 mi