Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Curracullenagh

Internal diam. c. 27.5m This univallate rath is situated on a steep NW facing slope on the E side of the valley of the Finglas river. It commands an excellent view over the entire valley and through the valley entrance as far as Tralee Bay and the Magharees Peninsula. Though constructed on a steep slope, the interior is relatively level, having been scarped up on the downslope side. The condition of the enclosing bank and fosse varies considerably. The bank survives well along most of the E half, from S to NE, where it is c. 3.5m wide at base and a maximum of 1.9m high internally and 1.2m externally. A short stretch of drystone masonry adheres to the inner face of the bank at ENE. In the NNE and NNW sectors the bank has been considerably disturbed by the cultivation ridges which occupy the interior and the internal height is only very slight. In the W quadrant the bank has been levelled, but the outline of the enclosure is indicated by a 2m high drop from the interior to the external ground level. In the SSW sector a low, narrow bank, 1.75m wide and .6m high, encloses the site. This is faced internally and externally with rough drystone walling and is markedly different from the remainder of the bank; it is probably relatively modern though it may follow the line of the original bank. The fosse is present around the E half of the site only and is 2.75 to 3m wide and up to 1.2m deep. No clearly defined entrance is preserved; 2 narrow breaks at NE may simply be animal tracks. A low earthen bank, which follows the curve of the ringfort bank in the SW quadrant, at a distance of c. 4m, appears to be the remains of an old field fence. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 375. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 6 August 2013