Ecclesiastical enclosure in Long Island

Long Island/Oileán Fada is located at the S side of the entrance to Portmagee Channel, and is separated from the mainland by Garraunagh Sound. It is a small elongated island, .7km long NE-SW and c. 70m in maximum width, and slopes downwards to NE where a natural slip-way is located. Just above this point is an enclosure which contains the remains of two huts, a possible oratory, a small internal enclosure, a possible leacht and a burial area. Enclosure: This is of subcircular plan and measures 27.5m N-S x 35.5m E-W internally. It is defined by a broad bank of earth and stone which averages .7m high externally and is up to 4.5m wide at W. Sections of the bank are severely eroded above the low cliff-face from NE to S, but several short stretches of rough drystone facing are preserved on its external flank here and at W. Quantities of charcoal are visible in the eroded face of the bank at E. A small entrance feature, defined by upright slabs set .6m apart, occurs at N, while a 4.5m long row of upright slabs at SE may have delineated the W side of an entrance which led up from the landing place. The interior of the enclosure slopes strongly down to E. The above description is derived from O'Sullivan, A. and Sheehan, J. (compilers) 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University press. (1996), no. 966. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 13 June 2013