Man-made underground passage in An Paideac — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Under the western slope above Ventry Harbour, a forgotten passage still cuts through the earth. Its trench runs northeast, curves southeast, and opens into a circular chamber where broken stone walling still stands. A small hole at the passage end hints that the route continues elsewhere in darkness. People may have built it to hide, worship, or simply avoid the harbour wind.

Well-preserved, roughly circular rath KE053-058---- with Man-made underground passage (KE053-058001-) lies on a gentle W facing slope, on the headland that marks the E side of the entrance to Ventry Harbour. The Man-made underground passage lies in the NW part of the interior, but the passage and chamber are now only marked by depressions in the ground. The depression or trench that marks the passage is up to 1.25m deep and 3.15m wide. It runs NE for 5.5m then curves around to run SE for 5.3m before meeting the chamber. The latter is represented by a circular depression, 4.1m in diameter and c. 0.6m deep. Part of the drystone-built walling of the structure survives for a short distance on the NE side of the passage where it meets the chamber. A small aperture in the side of the SW end of the passage may lead to a further section of the Man-made underground passage. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 516. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

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