Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Kilteenbane

A densely overgrown rath containing a now inaccessible souterrain and traces of 3 hut sites. It is located at the E edge of the fairly level tract of land that lies between the foot of Corrin mountain to W and the Finglas river to E. Immediately to E the land falls steeply to the river. When inspected by Browne, Armstrong and Macalister (1911, 48-9), 2 enclosing banks were visible though the outer one was 'much ruined'. The outer bank can now be traced in the SE quadrant only. It is a maximum of 5.5m wide at base, .65m high internally and 1.9m high externally. The fosse is also traceable only in this sector; it is 2m wide at base. The inner bank appears to have been levelled inwards and the enclosure can best be described now as a level, circular platform, slightly depressed in the centre. The edges are raised a maximum of .8 to .9m above the centre and 2.2m above the base of the fosse. The disturbed entrance faces E and is 2.3m wide. One side is lined by 2 horizontally-laid slabs, and the entire entrance may formerly have been stone-faced. It is unusual that there is no corresponding break in the outer bank. (1) (KE037-043001-) This circular clochaun, 3.44m in internal diameter, abuts the inner face of the bank at SSE. The wall is reduced for the most part to a bank of stones, 3m wide and a maximum of 1m high. The SE half of the inner wall-face stands to a height of .6m and is slightly corbelled. (2) (KE037-043003-) Browne et al recorded a smaller circular hut a short distance to WNW of (KE037-043001-), but this is now represented by little more than a pile of loose stones. (3) (KE037-043004-) A 3rd probable clochaun was recorded in the N sector of the interior but the vegetation in this area is impenetrable. Only a 1 to 1.5m long stretch of the E part of the outer wall-face is visible. (4) (KE037-043002-) According to Browne et al, the souterrain is roughly T-shaped in plan with a subsidiary passage opening off the N side of the longer passage. The present entrance occurs at the W edge of the platform, but is unlikely to be original as it would formerly have been contained within the thickness of the bank. The gap beneath one of the roof slabs here is too low to permit access, but the passage can be seen to run NNE and is c. 5m long according to Browne et al. It is of drystone-construction and is roofed by a series of large, flat slabs. A drystone-built air-shaft leads upwards from the W wall of the passage to the outer face of the bank. A 2nd passage opens off the E wall of passage 1, about 1m from the entrance, and, according to Browne et al, this extends c. 12m to clochaun (KE037-043001-). A large slab in the wall of this latter may mark the entrance. About 1.75m from the W end of this passage, movement was restricted by a round-headed, porthole slab. A 3rd passage opened off the N wall a little E of the creepway and ran for a short distance to NE before opening onto the surface. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 480. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013