Hut site in Gleann Fán

Cathair na Máirtíneach: Roughly circular cashel KE052-249---- is located on the lower S slopes of Mount Eagle, overlooking Dingle Bay. Much of the interior is occupied by the remains of several structures which have undergone considerable change since their original construction. Structure 1: The entrance passage opens directly into a sub-rectangular drystone hut which is built up against but not bonded into the cashel wall. The hut measures 2.25m x 2.1m internally and in 1858 it retained its corbelled roof (Du Noyer, 11-3); however, the walls now stand to a maximum height of 2.3m. It is not clear to what stage of the site's history this feature belongs but it is clearly secondary to the enclosing wall and entrance. Access to the interior of the cashel is by means of a flight of steps recently provided in the NE angle of structure (1), but Du Noyer's plan shows a narrow entrance in the SE corner. The latter entrance appears to have been closed up by 1899 (Macalister, 247-50), and a wide entrance gap had been broken through the cashel wall directly S of the original main entrance to the enclosure. This section of the wall was restored sometime after 1951 (Graham, 141-3) The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 570. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013