Souterrain in Ballymacdonnell

In 1986 local information indicated the site of a possible 'fort' at the following grid reference: ITM 496403, 607055. This location, included on the Record of Monuments and Places (issued 1997), was incorrect and the remains monument are c. 140m to the S (KE039-126----). The minutes of the County Kerry Field Club record an account of their visit (Minute Book, vol. 1, 31st March 1945, pp. 580-2): 'This consists of a circular chamber 6' [feet] in diameter & 6' [feet] high with three short passages leading off from it. Access is gained by a short crawl passage. There were originally 3 similar chambers in this fort but two have been demolished in clearance by the farmer, who informed the party that he found several boars tusks in the earth when making the clearance.' Attached to the report is a site note with an annotated sketch signed by J. McDonnell who inspected the site. The note reads: 'Hut site at Ballymacdonnell in Mr James Scanlon's land'. Underneath this text there is an annotated sketch of the site denoting 'a 6' [feet] high and 6' [feet] diameter circular hut site with a passage entrance identified at the south. There appears to be three niches or chambers extending from the hut site, more or less at the other cardinal points.' It is unclear as to whether a hut-site or souterrain was described in the above account. (Dunne 2015) Compiled by: Paul Walsh based on details kindly provided by Laurence Dunne, 16 February 2015. Date of upload: 17 February 2015