What is recorded here

Kiltennan Fort is a truncated earthen ringfort on Knockacarn ridge in County Clare, damaged into a straight nineteen-metre quarry face where its southern and western edges were dug out. It stands in a slight pasture hollow with wide eastern and western views, beside another rath thirty metres away and a trigonometrical point that helped preserve its name. The loss of half its circle does not diminish the place; it reveals how much of Clare’s ancient landscape was taken for stone, soil or convenience while the remaining scarped platform still holds its shape against forgetting.

In a slight hollow in reclaimed pasture at the E end of ridge named Knockacarn; the land slopes to the SW and there are wide views from E to W. Not indicated on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map but a trigonometrical point (see cairn CL009-099001-), c. 12m to the SE, is labelled ‘Kiltennan Fort’. On the 1897 OS 25-inch plan and 1920 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, this label refers to a subcircular enclosure indicated by a line of hachures extending from SSE to W to NE. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). This rath (dims. of top 21.3m E-W; 20.8m N-S; dims. of base 29.8m E-W; 25.5m N-S,), constructed of earth and stone, is defined by a scarped raised platform (H 0.6-1.3m). It has been severely damaged from S to W where it has been dug out, resulting in a straight quarry face (L 19m) that gives it a truncated D-shaped appearance. The interior is level. Three large stones at the base of the scarp at W are associated with relatively recent field-clearance activity. Another rath (CL009-099003-) lies c. 30m to the E. The following image has been uploaded: CL009-099002-_01.jpg View from E Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 26 May 2022

Kiltennan Fort, Kiltennan North is a likely early-medieval ringfort, situated in a slight hollow on a ridge, suggesting it was a defensive or agricultural settlement. Local folklore often associates such forts with fairy dwellings, though specific traditions connected to this site are not recorded.

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