Promontory fort

Less than a kilometre S of Brandon Point a small promontory on the W side of Brandon Bay is defended by a thick stone wall. The level interior measures a maximum of 18.8m E-W and 23.5m N-S and is bounded to N and S by sheer cliffs c. 13m high. The wall rises from 1.1 to 4.15m above the interior, but the inner face is not generally preserved to such a height and has collapsed entirely in places. The wall rises up to 1.95m above the external ground level which is considerably higher than the level of the interior of the fort. It varies in thickness from 2.2 to 4.37m. Two terraces can be traced for short stretches along the N section of the inner face. The outer face is incorporated into the modern field wall system and may have been substantially rebuilt. A single course of stone walling extends 5m along the edge of the promontory from the S end of the wall. The interior was formerly cultivated (OSNB Cloghane, book 1, 45) and the latter feature may be the remains of a perimeter wall associated with this phase of use. No entrance gap is visible in the present remains. The site is known locally as An Cathairin, and An Seabhac (1939, 220) records the placenames Log an Dúinín and Cuas na Cathrach in the vicinity. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 278. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 4 August 2013