Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Rathduff

Internal diam. 30m This sub-circular bivallate rath is located on fairly level pastureland about 200m N of a small E-W flowing tributary of the Owenascaul river. There is a local tradition of a souterrain at the site. The inner bank survives around almost the entire perimeter, but the outer bank has been considerably disturbed by modern field fences, one of which bisects the site ENE-WSW. The outer bank reaches a maximum height of 1.4 to 1.5m at E where it is 4m wide at base. It is separated from the fosse by a c. 3.5 to 4m wide berm which is .2m high above the latter. This berm is visible along the entire N half of the site and for a short distance at S. The fosse is c. 3.5 to 5.5m wide at base and is generally very shallow. The inner bank rises a maximum of 2.2m above the fosse and 1.8m above the interior. There are a number of breaks through the inner bank but the most likely situations of the original entrance face N and SSE. The former is 2m wide but there is no gap in the berm at this point. The SSE entrance is 1.8m wide and there is a possible corresponding gap in the outer bank at this point. The latter is 3.2m wide and, though the bank has disappeared on its W side, its line is probably preserved by the field fence which encloses this section of the site. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 519. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013