Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Dún Sheáin

Internal diam. 29m NW-SE, 27m NE-SW This roughly circular univallate rath contains the remains of 4 possible huts, and a souterrain (KE053-077002-) was discovered in either this site or KE053-078----. It lies on a gentle N facing slope overlooking Trabeg. The external fosse is a maximum of 1.75m deep below the external ground level and c. 3m wide; it is no longer visible along the N sector. A section of the fosse forms part of a trackway which joins the site at SW and E. The earthen bank rises 2m above the fosse, a maximum of 3m above the external ground level on the N side, and up to 1.5m above the interior. A 1m wide gap at E is probably the original entrance. Hut 1(KE053-077001-): This overgrown foundation abuts the bank at ESE. It measures 3m N-S x 2m E-W internally, and the ruined walls are up to 1.25m high. It was apparently used as a goat/sheep-shelter and, during the War of Independence, as a hide-out (local information). Hut 2 (KE053-077003-): Located to N of (KE053-077001-), this structure survives as a stony bank enclosing an area 8m NE-SW x 5.5m NW-SE; it is open along the NE quadrant. Hut 3 (KE053-077004-): Located in the N part of the interior, only the W arc of this structure survives. It is 6m in diameter and the wall is reduced to a stony bank up to .75m high. Hut 4 (KE053-077005-): Located to W of (KE053-077004-), only the E arc of this structure survives. It is 4m in diameter and the wall is reduced to a low stony bank. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage (compiler) 'Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey.' Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne (1986), no. 393. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 May 2013