What is recorded here

Ballysitteragh mountain holds a forgotten ringfort where drystone passages still whisper beneath rough pasture. Two short tunnels survive, one barely high enough for a child and the other blocked at both ends, hinting at a larger network lost to collapse and time. The site belongs to an era when people shaped stone into hidden rooms, perhaps for storage, ritual or refuge, but the full extent remains uncertain. What is clear is that human hands built these chambers, and the mountain has kept them half-secret ever since.

Univallate ringfort KE043-059---- encloses the remains of a circular hut (KE043-059001-) and a drystone-built Man-made underground passage (KE043-059002-) of uncertain extent. It is situated in rough, fairly level pastureland on the W slopes of Ballysitteragh mountain. Only 2 short sections of the Man-made underground passage are now visible. The 1st consists of a 2m long section of passage, located directly E of the hut-site. The opening is too small to allow access but the passage is no more than .35m high at present, is of drystone construction and is aligned NW-SE. To N of the hut, a stony ridge runs E-W for 10m; this may indicate the location of part of a passage linking this 1st section of the Man-made underground passage to a 2nd section in the N sector. The latter consists of a section of passage which is 4m long, .55m wide and c. 0.5m high; it is aligned NE-SW. The drystone-built side-walls and flagged roof are preserved only in the SW half; the remainder now consisting only of an open, unfaced hollow; both ends are blocked by collapse. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 444. 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.