Man-made underground passage in Cill Rialaigh

Situated on the steep SE slopes of Bolus Head, from which it commands a magnificent view over the mouth of Kenmare Bay to the Beara Peninsula at S, KE097-044001- comprises a strong cashel wall which encloses an oratory, a circular hut, three rectangular buildings, a cross-slab and a covered passage. Just outside the enclosure, at N, is a rectangular platform with a leacht and a cross-slab. This site was in use as a ceallúnach until the nineteenth century (OSNB Prior, 51), and a holy well is located c. 90m to SW (KE097-059----) Covered Passage: This corbelled drystone hut (KE097-044003-) is located in the NW quadrant of the enclosure. A low lintelled passage is entered from the hut at SW. The opening measures .35m high and 1.05m wide and the passage, up to .8m high, extends to SW for 2.7m, where it is blocked by boulders. Its sides are carefully coursed with small slabs and the roofing slabs, which are almost flush with the present ground level of the enclosure, oversail them. Lynch stated that the passage ran to the external face of the enclosing rampart (1902b, 325), but this is not now evident. Neither does the passage appear to turn to SE, as suggested by Henry (1957, 111), though a number of large slabs occur adjacent to the passage in this position. 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. 951. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013