What is recorded here

An Dún is a small triangular promontory fort beside the Finglas river estuary in County Kerry, defended by sheer cliffs on two sides and an earthen bank on the third. The bank stands two metres high externally, averages four metres wide at its base, and leaves an eight-metre gap near the south cliff that may have been the entrance. A shallow depression runs outside its north half, while a ruined drystone wall skirs the promontory edge. Local tradition also mentions a man-made underground passage leading from the interior to the adjacent field, giving the place a hidden depth beneath its compact coastal defence.

The estuary of the Finglas river is bounded to E and W by cliffs up to 50 feet/15m high. On the E side, c. 50m from the river and now c. 100m S of the present HWM, is a small triangular promontory measuring 29 x 30m. To N and S it is defended by sheer cliffs and to E by an earthen bank and possible fosse. It is known locally as An Dún (An Seabhac 1939, 294). The bank is 1.4m high internally and 2m high externally and it averages 4m in width at base. An 8m wide gap between its S end and the cliff edge may represent the entrance. A shallow depression, up to .15m deep, runs outside the N half of the bank. The ruined remains of a drystone wall skirting the edge of the promontory may be a more recent feature. An Seabhac mentions a Man-made underground passage leading from the interior to the adjacent field. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 275. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 4 August 2013

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