Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Gleann Fán

Cathair Bheag na Máirtíneach: This site lies on the S slopes of Mount Eagle about 75m W of Cathair na Máirtíneach. It formerly consisted of a circular enclosure containing 5 huts, but very little now remains. The circular enclosure shown on the 1st edition of the OS maps has for the most part been replaced by field walls which may follow the line of the original enclosing wall. On the N side the site is defined only by a difference in ground level between it and the surrounding field. Windele (1848, 481) noted 5 huts within this cashel but only 3 are marked on the OS maps. By 1899 (Macalister; 250) there were substantial remains of only 1 hut but there were traces of others. The surviving hut has been modified and rebuilt for use as a sheep-fold or shelter. It was probably originally circular, but its E half is virtually destroyed and a straight modern wall now defines this side. It measures 3.5m N-S x 2.3m E-W internally, but was originally c. 4.5m in diameter. The W wall is probably original but it has obviously been heightened in relatively recent times. It is of corbelled drystone construction and is a maximum of 1.9m high. The present outer face rises 1.3m above a basal mound which may be the remains of an earlier wall; it is possible that the entire outer face has been rebuilt. The entrance faces SE and is .7 to .8m wide. A lintelled recess in the wall opposite the entrance measures .32m x .21m x .4m deep. The 2nd recess noted by Macalister is no longer evident. The wall leading up to the SW side of the entrance on the outside may be a late feature, erected to help herd sheep into the fold. Macalister noted traces of another clochaun to E of hut (1) and though this area is now obscured by field clearance debris, the connecting passage between the 2 huts is still discernible. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 569. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013