Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in An Gabhlán Thoir

Internal diam. c. 31m The remains of this univallate ringfort are considerably disturbed and confused. It is now roughly oval in plan but may originally have been circular. Its N side is defined by an E-W field fence which is slightly curved. This may follow the line of the original bank and may also incorporate part of the latter. The E side of the enclosure is defined by a 1.5m high scarp, the interior being raised above the level of the surrounding field. Some large stones are visible in the face of this scarp and a mound of stony debris at one point may be the remains of the enclosing bank. The S and W sides of the enclosure are defined by a curving bank which now forms part of a field boundary. This is composed of earth and stone and is a maximum height of 1.75m. No bank or scarp survives along the NW sector. The banks to N and S of this latter area turn NW away from the enclosure and form a small rectangular extension which appears to be a late feature. Dense vegetation obscures much of the enclosing element and it was difficult to determine how much of it is original. The outlines of a pair of circular, conjoined huts can be traced directly inside and abutting the S bank. The W hut measures c. 4m in diameter internally and is enclosed by a low stony bank c. 0.6m high and 2m wide. The outline of the E hut is less clear but it appears to be about 8m in overall diameter. Two parallel mounds extend N from these huts but their origin is not clear. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 453. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013