Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Cill Fhaoláin

Internal diam. 24m N-S, 26.75m E-W This roughly circular univallate rath is situated on the W slopes of the Brandon mountain range, on the SE side of the valley which is bounded to N by Ballysitteragh mountain and to S by Knocknahoran. The Ballyheabought river flows SW through this valley, about 375m to NW of the rath. The site is enclosed by an earthen bank and fosse. The bank is revetted internally with drystone walling which has been much repaired and rebuilt, and 2 chambers set into the bank at NE and W are probably modern. The fosse is c. 0.05 to .2m deep. The bank is a maximum of 2.55m high externally and the inner facing stands to a maximum height of 1.85m. The present entrance faces N but is not an original feature. The original entrance may be represented by one of the breaks in the bank at SE. (1) A drystone-built clochaun (KE043-158001-), incorporated into the bank at NE. It is rectangular in plan internally but irregular externally, and measures a maximum of 2.24m internally. The upper 3 courses of the walls are corbelled inwards and the chamber is roofed by large flat slabs at a height of 1.4m above the floor. The lintelled doorway is located at the W end of the S wall and is 1.25m high. (2) A rectangular, drystone-built recess in the inner face of the bank. It measures 1.45m x 1.08m and is a maximum of .61m high. These chambers were probably animal pens or coops associated with the disused farmhouse which is located c. 75m to NW. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 471. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013