Lisshaneraoughter

This impressive site occupies the E end of a ridge which runs along the N side of a stretch of the Finglas river. It consists of a platform, suboval in plan, enclosed by a series of earthen banks and internal fosses which are traversed by a causeway at NNW. The apparently featureless platform slopes down gently to E, and measures 35m N-S x 51m E-W. It is raised up to 2m above the site's external ground level at W, while at E the external ground level slopes away sharply. A good deal of the enclosure's S side has been eroded away by a high meander scarp of the river. Traces of a low bank and internal fosse skirt the edge of this scarp at S and SE; the fosse is .6m deep and 2m in average width, while the 1.5m wide bank rises to a height of .7m from the base of the fosse. Both of these features appear to be relatively modern. The platform is defined by a deep, wide, flat-bottomed fosse which is traversed by a modern trackway at E. This fosse, which is rather overgrown in places, varies in basal width from 2.5m up to 5m, and is on average 3m deep below the level of the platform. From SW through to NE there is a broad external bank, up to 7m wide across its top. This is best preserved at W, where a small bank runs along both edges of its crest. Here, a small lime-kiln has been built into its outer face. At N, part of the bank has been converted for use as a trackway, and its outer edge is overlain by a field boundary. Outside of the bank at SW, on the S side of a modern field boundary, there are traces of a second external bank; this measures 2.5m wide, rises to a maximum external height of 1.7m, and is separated from the inner bank by a shallow, 2m wide, fosse. 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. 770. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013

Lisshaneraoughter, Shannera Upper is a ringfort, likely dating to the early medieval period, characterized by a sub-oval platform enclosed by earthen banks and internal ditches. Local tradition associates such sites with fairy folk, and they were often avoided due to beliefs in their supernatural inhabitants.