Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Cill Mhic An Domhnaigh

Internal diam. 30.5m N-S, 34m E-W An Lios: This impressive and fairly well-preserved univallate rath is located on a very slight E facing slope and commands an excellent view in all directions. The circular interior is enclosed by an earthen bank and fosse and contains traces of 3 or 4 huts and a souterrain. These latter were considerably disturbed when, in 1968, an attempt was made to reveal their outlines. The fosse is up to 3.2m deep below the external ground level, and for most of its circumference its outer edge is surmounted by a field fence. The bank rises at least 4.2m above the base of the fosse and up to 2.5m above the interior. The causewayed entrance faces due E and is 3m wide. Huts: During the investigation in 1968, a trench was dug from the rath entrance to the easternmost hut and then along the inner wall-face of the S half of 3 structures; the spoil was simply heaped up on either side. Neither the paved passages between the 3 huts nor the paved path leading from the E hut to the entrance are now visible. However, the trench in the latter area does appear to be stone-faced. The E hut is c. 7.6m in diameter internally and access to it was provided by a c. 0.85m wide entrance at E. The middle hut is c. 5m in diameter internally and the communicating passage between it and the E hut was c. 0.9m long and faced due E. The W hut is c. 3.4m in diameter and was entered from the middle hut via a c. 1.2m long passage at SE. The surviving wall in the 3 huts is no more than .2m high. A mound in the S sector of the interior may mark the location of a 4th hut. Souterrain: This opens off the NW side of the W hut but is not now accessible. A sketch plan made in 1968 (OPW) shows that a passage ran SW from the entrance and probably extended as far as a 2nd opening in the outer face of the ringfort bank at SW; the latter area is now densely overgrown and the precise location of the opening could not be identified. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 482. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 2/1958).