Doon Point — An Baile Uachtarach Theas

Doon Point/Dún an Fheirtéaraigh is a long, narrow promontory stretching over 500m NE-SW, on the N side of Ferriter's Cove. It gradually decreases in width from a maximum of c. 100m at the landward end to only a few metres at Doon Point, its westernmost extremity. At the landward end, and again about 157m further to W, narrow inlets of the sea on the S side of the promontory reduce the width to c. 45m and c. 30m respectively. The narrow necks thus created are spanned by a series of banks and fosses, effectively dividing the promontory into 2 distinct areas; the westernmost of these contains traces of a large number of hut-sites. A 15th or 16th century tower-house was later constructed on the inner bank of the E line of defences. E defences: Two disturbed banks with an intervening fosse extend across the narrow neck between the sea cliffs to N and S. A 5.8m wide causeway crosses these near the centre, providing access to the interior. To N of the causeway the outer bank, which is c. 14m wide, rises c. 1.5m above the external ground level and c. 6m above the base of the earth-cut fosse which averages 5m in width. What appears to be an earthen field boundary, .5m high and 3m wide, runs along the top of the bank. The inner bank is 4.5m wide and 3m high internally, and rises 3.8m above the fosse. Hollowed out of the N end of this bank is a sub-rectangular depression, 5 x 4m, enclosed by a low bank of earth and stone. Though ascent up the cliffs would be difficult, it may have been possible for a small boat to land people in the cove below this, in which case this feature may have been a guard-chamber. To S of the causeway a field boundary runs along the outer edge of the outer bank which is c. 5m wide and .8m high externally. The bank falls steeply, an average of 4.9m, to the base of the rock-cut fosse. This latter is 6m wide and a modern wall spans its S edge. The inner bank rises c. 7.1m above the fosse, is 10 to 12m wide, and falls c. 2m to the interior. Beyond the outer bank are 3 earthen mounds resulting from recent disturbance (local information). Both sections of the fosse decrease in depth as they approach the causeway and are wider and deeper where they merge with the cliff faces. The tower-house (see below) is situated on the S side of the causeway at the end of the inner bank; a modern wall extends E from this along the causeway. E interior: A fairly recent stone wall skirts the N side of the promontory between the 2 lines of banks and fosses. An older fence skirts the S side of the promontory and inside this is a fosse or possibly a trackway, 3m wide. The fences continue across the narrow neck to W of this area, running along the crest of the outer bank of the W line of defences. A little NW of the castle are a series of low, earthen banks, some of which appear to define a rectangular house-site measuring internally 6.2m E-W x 3.5m N-S. A short distance to SSW is another measuring 3.5m x 8m. Further again to S are an oval and a sub-rectangular depression, c. 1.4m and .5m deep respectively. One of these has previously been interpreted as a well (annotation on map in Archaeology Department, UCC). A more definite house-site lies midway along the N edge of the promontory. Measuring 7 x 1.6m internally, it appears to be divided internally into 2 rooms, and a shallow drain extends 22m SW from one end. W defences: These consist of 3 banks and 2 fosses traversed by a 4m wide causeway. The E bank is surmounted by a field fence; it is 4m wide and 1.2m high externally, and falls 1.8m to the base of the shallow E fosse. This latter is 5m wide and rises c. 1m to the top of the middle bank which is 6.2m wide. The W, rock-cut fosse is 4.5m wide and rises 2m to the middle bank and 3.6m to the top of the inner bank. This latter is c. 8m wide and has only a very slight internal height. W interior: Nine circular hut-sites have been identified near the W tip. The interiors, varying in size from 2.5 x 3m to 5.6 x 6.5m, are up to 2m below the surrounding field level and most appear to be excavated out of the underlying rock. Low, earth and stone banks enclose some of the sites, and one has a series of large slabs set on edge along the inner face. In addition to these sites there are at least 13 oval depressions, mainly occurring along the cliff edges to N and S. These range in diameter from 3.3 x 3.9m to 5.2 x 5.5m. They are generally open on the side facing the cliff edge and cut, back into the sloping ground on the opposite side to a depth of c. 1.2m. A few are provided with a low, earthen bank enclosing the open side, but the majority are simple hollows. Similar features have been noted at Bull's Head promontory fort (KE053-085001-). Their precise nature is unclear, but they may indicate shelters of a more temporary nature than the more substantial hut-sites. A series of low earthen banks near the S cliff edge are too ill-defined to allow for definite interpretation. Ferriters Castle/Caisleán an Fheirtéaraigh: The Norman family of Ferriter held extensive land here by the end of the 13th century, and in the 16th century 'Ferters Creek' appears to have been a port of some importance (CPR Eliz. 1585, 105). The castle, marked on 16th/17th century maps as 'Filliters Castle' or 'Castle Sybil' (Westropp 1910, 204), was probably built in the later 15th or 16th century. The family remained in residence until the 17th century when Piaras Feirtéar, the poet, was captured and subsequently executed in Killarney in 1653 (Ó Conchúir 1977, 48). The building was in ruins by 1756 (Smith, 187). The castle is situated on the inner face of the Eastern defences of the promontory fort, its battered E wall resting on boulder foundations near the bottom of the fosse. The walls are built of coursed sandstone flags and rubble laid in a sandy mortar; the surviving NW and SE quoins are widely chamfered. The main block of the castle, a rectangle c. 6.6m N-S x 5m E-W internally, with walls c. 1.6m in thickness, suffered severe storm damage in 1845 (Fisher 1847, 55). Prior to this a stair turret and entrance were visible in the SW corner (OSL). Only the NW angle, c. 11m high, with attatched N and W walls, and the lower courses of the SE angle with attached section of the E wall, are now extant. A low lintelled opening, near the S end of the E wall, may have been an outlet for a garderobe shaft. The castle has a vaulted lower storey lit by a double-splayed loop set in a lintelled embrasure in the W wall. There are 2 wall-cupboards in the NW angle. Beam holes in the N and W walls suggest that there may have been a 2nd floor under the vault, lit by a window in the N wall; only the splayed W ingoing of the latter is now preserved. The pointed barrel vault, aligned N-S, has completely collapsed, and only the NW angle of the storey above it remains. A blocked-up ope in the wall of this chamber retains only the chamfered N jamb and sill, its pointed head having fallen (OSL). The N wall was fitted with a wall-press, and a central recess in this wall may be the remains of a window ope. To see a 3D model of this monument visit: https://skfb.ly/6AGnw The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 266. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 4 August 2013