Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Na Gleannta Thuaidh

Internal diam. 24.5m N-S, 22.5m E-W Cahercullaun/Cathair Coileáin: Situated on the lower W slopes of Ballysitteragh mountain about 40 to 50m N of a small tributary of the Milltown river. About 150m to N is the old roadway, known locally as the military road, which crosses the high mountain saddle between Ballysitteragh and Gearhane mountains, and which links the Owenmore valley on the E side of the Brandon mountain range to the Milltown valley on the W side. The site consists of a ruined cashel, with possible souterrain, which was modified and incorporated into later defensive works of unknown date. Cashel: The cashel wall is now largely defaced and collapsed, the average height of the debris being c. 1m externally and c. 0.5m internally. It was constructed of large boulders, and short sections of the inner and outer faces are preserved to a maximum height of .25m. At the one point where it can be determined, the wall thickness is 4.4m. There is possibly stepped facing on the outer face of the wall at N. The impression of the wall gained from earlier accounts is somewhat different as there is generally agreement that the wall was 9 feet thick (2.74m) and up to 12 feet (3.66m) high in parts. The original entrance may have been in the SW sector which is now occupied by part of the later defensive works. Souterrain: A hollow in the NE sector of the interior may mark the location of a souterrain. It is 1.2m x 1.5m in diameter and .3 to .4m deep. An aperture at its W side is .2m high and extends at least .5m to W; it is overlain by 2 superimposed slabs. A short distance to SE of this hollow, 5 stones form a line 4.2m long. One of the stones stands upright while the others are prostrate. The function of this feature is not known. Westropp (1902, 699) mentions a clochaun in the interior but as no earlier accounts refer to this it is possible he was mistaken. Later Defensive Works: The cashel remains occupy the NE corner of a large rectangular enclosure measuring 73.5m E-W and 44m N-S. The SW section of the cashel wall is occupied by 2 large mounds of stone collapse, apparently the ruins of a gate-house tower. From the S side of the S mound a low bank extends 18.5m in a roughly W direction, terminating at a roughly circular structure, 3 to 3.25m in diameter, which is now reduced to a mound of stone collapse with a hollow centre. The only other feature visible on the site is a wedge-shaped structure which abuts the inner face of the N wall of the large enclosure. It measures 9m x 9m to 4m internally and the enclosing bank of earth and stone is .2 to .4m high. The large mounds are up to 2.95m high and stand 1.7m apart, the ground between being slightly raised. The details provided in earlier accounts are slightly confusing, but it appears that these mounds are the remains of a gate-house tower which was added to the cashel at some later but undetermined date. The structure is named 'Tower (in ruins)' on the OS maps. In the OSNB (Dingle, book 2, 19) the gateway is described as 6 feet (1.8m) wide and 18 feet (5.5m) thick, and 2 perforated stones, for receiving the gate or door, were also noted. In the OSL mention is made of 'two fragments of walls of a military castle, 16 feet (4.9m) high and 7 feet (2.1m) thick and well grouted'. These are placed on the E side of the cashel, but as the gateway is not mentioned in this account it is probable that it is the 'tower' which is being described. Curran (no.76) visited the site in 1870 and was locally informed that the gateway had formerly been arched or lintelled over and that guard-chambers were present on either side. The OSNB account also mentions an arch. Chatterton (1839, 173-5) noted that the walls of the tower bulged at the base and that the remains of steps, leading to the top of the wall, were visible on the inner face. The wall of the large enclosure was previously described as 4 to 10 feet (1.2 to 3m) high and 2.5 feet (.76m) thick (OSNB). Local tradition asserts that this fort was built by Coileán Ó Duinn (or Ó Duibhne) who used the large enclosure to protect his animals from wolves at night (An Seabhac 1939, 24). O'Donovan (OSM) was also of the opinion that this acted as a bawn or cattle enclosure associated with the 'castle'. At present the enclosure is defined to N by a low wall, to W by what appears to be a field wall, to S by a low bank, .4m high, with a small stream flowing outside it, and to E by a lane way. The ruinous nature of the present remains prohibits definite interpretation of the later remains, and their date and precise function remains unknown. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 573. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013