Leacht in Cill Rialaigh

Situated on the steep SE slopes of Bolus Head, from which it commands a magnificent view over the mouth of Kenmare Bay to the Beara Peninsula at S, KE097-044001- comprises a strong cashel wall which encloses an oratory, a circular hut, three rectangular buildings, a cross-slab and a covered passage. Just outside the enclosure, at N, is a rectangular platform with a leacht and a cross-slab. This site was in use as a ceallúnach until the nineteenth century (OSNB Prior, 51), and a holy well is located c. 90m to SW (KE097-059----). Rectangular Platform: This large drystone structure is located 5m outside the enclosure at N. Built on a steep SE facing slope, it consists of a level rubble platform which is flush with external ground level at NW but rises 1.7m above it at its downslope end. The platform is faced with coursed masonry and intermittent basal upright slabs, and at its SE end the facing comprises alternate layers of long thick slabs and regularly coursed thin slabs. The upper surface of the platform is enclosed by a low wall, up to .5m high, and measures 8.7m NW-SE x 6.3m NE-SW. A .7m wide entrance occurs towards the downslope end of the SW side-wall, and an opposing gap at NE may represent a second entrance. On the surface of the platform is a denuded rectangular mound of stone, including some quartz, with some coursed facing apparent at SE. Measuring c. 5m NW-SE x c. 2.5m NE-SW, it may be a leacht. At its SW side stands a cross-slab (KE097-044011-). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 951. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013