What is recorded here

Ten feet of broken earth and stubborn roof slabs still mark a narrow underground passage inside Rinbaun ringfort, though the whole way was not obvious during a later field inspection. Westropp called it rare because such a passage was unusual in an earthen fort, comparing it to places at Aileach and Fahan. It may have let a person creep through darkness beneath the bank, perhaps to escape, hide or enter without breaking the visible wall.

In the SW quadrant of Rinbaun ringfort (CL030-021----) and close to a house site (CL030-021002-). Described by Westropp (1911, 132-3) as ‘a narrow passage 2 feet wide and at present only 3 feet high; it is roofed with long slabs; the outer wall is only a foot thick; about 10 feet is broken out but the firmly set roof-slabs project and hold up the bank; the passage is complete for about 10 feet to the south. It is a rare feature, especially in an earthen fort, being similar to those in the Grianaun of Aileach and the so-called ‘Fort of the Wolves’ at Fahan in Kerry.’ At a slightly later date Rinbaun ringfort is described by Westropp (1915, 351) as having ‘the most remarkable feature…the curved passage or Man-made underground passage… It is a narrow passage, 2ft. wide, and now barely 3ft. high, the outer wall only a foot thick and much broken, but the strong roof slabs remain.’ The Man-made underground passage was not evident during a field inspection of the ringfort in 1999. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 22 October 2025

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