Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in An Rinn Bhuí

Internal diam. 41m N-S, 43.5m E-W Lisnarahardin/Lios na Rátha Áirde: This circular bivallate rath contains traces of 3 or 4 hut-sites and also reputedly contained a souterrain (OSNB Cloghane, book 2, 8). It is situated on a slightly elevated tract of level ground overlooking Trabeg. Much of the outer bank is overlain by a modern field fence and is considerably disturbed, particularly to S. It is 3m wide and c. 2.3m high above the bottom of the fosse. The fosse is 2.5m wide at base and the inner bank rises 3.5m above it. The latter is c. 6m wide at base and 1.75m high internally. There are intermittent stretches of drystone revetment on both banks, particularly their inner flanks. The gap through the banks at NNE is a secondary feature. The original entrance faces S and consists of a 4.1m wide gap through the inner bank and a 7m wide causeway across the fosse. The outer bank in this area has been destroyed and a field fence which replaced it has also been removed. The gap through the inner bank is defined on its W side by 3 stones and a single stone stands upright on its E side. The centre of the interior is occupied by a circular, raised area, c. 20.5m in diameter; this is apparently natural. A series of stony banks at the centre of this may mark the sites of 3 huts, but only 1 is clearly defined. It measures 5.7m x 3.5m internally and the 1.1m wide entrance gap faces S, in line with the entrance to the ringfort. A rectangular hut lies in the shelter of the bank at E. It measures 3.5m x 2.8m internally and is enclosed by a 1.15m wide band of collapse. The entrance may have been located in the W wall which is almost completely levelled. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 524. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013