Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Bedford,knockane (iraghticonnor By.)

Internal diameter 17m Situated on rising land in the corner of a field, with excellent views in all directions, this bivallate rath consists of a sub-circular inner area which is enclosed by a well-defined earthen bank. The bank is c 4m-6m wide and has a steep exterior side which can especially be noted N to NE, where it is 1.9m high. It rises to a maximum of 1m above the interior. The intervening fosse can be noted for most of the site, except to the SW through W to NW, where a fieldbank and drain cuts through it in a N-S direction; elsewhere it is c 3.8m wide. The outer bank is not as well preserved as the inner one and is best preserved NE through E to SE. No trace of the outer bank can be noted SW through W to NW where the fieldbank and drain cut through this site. The outer bank rises to .4m-.9m above the fosse and c .5m above the surrounding land. The interior is at a higher level than the surrounding land. Contained within the NE sector is a collapsed souterrain (KE011-001001-), noted on the 1939 OS map. This souterrain cuts the internal side of the inner bank and curves to the E. It is 2.6m wide. Between this curved bank and the inner bank, there is a .6m- deep U-shaped depression and contained within this are four large slabs. The possible entrance lies E where it is c2m wide. Immediately N of the outer bank is a circular mound 1.8m N-S and 0.6m high (KE011-001002-), and 2.6m N of this is another smaller mound, 1.4m internally N-S and .4m high. These are probably connected to the rath. The overall external diameter of this site is 38m N-S and 37m EW. The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 432. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 2 August 2013