Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Aughanna,gowlane (corkaguiny By.)

Diam. c. 36m N-S, 41m E-W An Chathairín: Situated on a N to NW facing slope overlooking Brandon Bay. The site consists of a level, oval platform, its S half level with the surrounding field, its N half raised between 1.5m and 3.2m above it. The S half is enclosed by a drystone field wall which, in parts, particularly on the outside, can be seen to overlie a grass-grown bank of stones. This latter is probably the collapsed remains of the original enclosing wall. The N half of the enclosure is defined by the scarp which, in the NE quadrant, is faced with roughly-constructed drystone masonry. A low stony bank skirts the edge of the platform above the latter; it is probably the remains of the field wall shown here on the 2nd edition of the OS map. A shallow depression, near the WNW edge of the platform, marks the location of a souterrain which was closed up to prevent injury to cattle (local information). The name of the site and the possible remains of an earlier wall beneath the present one suggest that this site was a cashel rather than a rath. A bullaun stone lies on top of a field wall about 16m E of the site. It measures 1.35m x 1m x c. 0.4m thick. A depression, .3m in diameter and from .05 to .2m deep, has been carved out of its upper surface. A stone cross and 3 human skulls were discovered in the field immediately to SE in Aughanna townland (CKFC 1945, 605; local information). These suggest the existence of a burial ground in the vicinity but there is no memory of this in local tradition. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 574. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013