Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Coollick (magunihy By., Kilcummin Par.)

In pasture, on a steep SW-facing slope, at the N edge of a deep ravine. A circular area (31.5m E-W) defined by two earthen banks with an intervening fosse and the remains of a possible third bank at ESE. The interior is defined by the inner bank (Wth 4.1m; int. H 0.25m; ext. H 0.8m) SW-SSE and by a scarp SSE-SW. The intervening fosse (Wth 2.4m at the base) is evident WSW-SE. The middle bank (Wth 3.4m; int. H 1.3m; ext. H 3.15m) is evident SW-SE. The SE end of the middle bank terminates at the edge of the ravine. The possible outer bank is evident ESE-SE. The SE end of this bank also terminates at the edge of the ravine. A short arc of a possible fosse occurs outside the middle bank E-SE. The interior is level. There are two possible hut sites (KE058-044001-, KE058-044002-) in the SW and SE quadrants, respectively. There is a possible causeway entrance through the inner (Wth c. 1.6m) and middle (Wth c. 2.4m) banks at E. Stone-facing occurs on both banks at either side of the entrance. A stream enters the intervening fosse at NNW and flows along its base through W, exiting at S over the edge of the ravine. In the 1940s a visit to 'the great fort on Fleming's land at Coolick' was recorded and the rath was described as having 'a high commanding position' and 'very high ramparts and [a] moat' (Minutes of the Co. Kerry Field Club, 1946, vol. 2, 700). Another rath (KE058-043001-) is c. 60m to the S on the opposite side of the ravine. The site of a standing stone (KE058-044003-) is in the SE quadrant of the interior. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011