Bolus Signal Tower — Bólas

Situated at the NE end (and at high point\crest) of a NE-SW running ridge that extends out to Bolus Head c. 1.1kms to the SW (OD c. 285m). Located on the wide flat crest of the ridge with downward slopes to the coastline to the N, W, and S; extensive views over Ballinskelligs Bay to the S and SE and over St. Finian's Bay to the N and NW. Located c. 580m E of coastline at closest point close to sea cliffs at Bolus Point. The surrounding area consists of unenclosed rough pasture with an area of enclosed pasture (defined by mainly linear irregular rubble stone boundary walls, now mostly collapsing) located further down the slope to the E and SE after c. 300m. Site located c. 570m ESE of the associated signal station at Bolus Point (KE096-024----). The ‘enclosed barrack signal station’ site at Bolus is located c. 1.8kms W\WSW of an ecclesiastical enclosure (KE097-044001-) containing the remains of a church (KE097-044002-) with multiple associated sites located at Cill Rialaigh, and c. 2.6kms S of a coastal promontory fort (KE096-014----), known as ‘Doongar’ located on a narrow promontory between St. Finan’s Bay and Ducalla Head at Alachaí Mór. The remains of an early nineteenth-century (c. 1810) three-bay two-storey or single-storey over raised basement rectangular-plan (ext. dims c. 10.5m NW-SE x c. 4.3m NE-SW; wall T c. 0.75m) former enclosed barracks\signal station associated with the signal station\tower network. Possibly\probably originally with a signal mast to site. Constructed of random rubble sandstone with some flush roughly-dressed sandstone quoins to the corners. Now roofless and collapsing. Gable-ended (NW and SE) and formerly with tall rubble stone chimneystacks rising over gable ends (NW and SE), now collapsed (totally collapsed to SE gable). Each chimneystack originally served two fireplaces on the ground floor level and one fireplace on the first floor level. Mono-pitched roof (collapsed) with roof originally sloping from rear elevation (NE; wall H c. 9m) to front elevation (SW; wall H c. 7m). Square-headed doorway to the centre of the front elevation (SW) at first floor level; doorway now partially collapsed. Doorway original reached up flight of freestanding rubble stone ramp\steps (L SW-NE c. 5.4m) with a gap (L c. 2.2m SW-NE) that formerly gave access to doorway via a timber gangway\drawbridge, now gone. Formerly square-headed window openings flank central doorway at first floor level (collapsed) to SW elevation with corresponding square-headed window openings below at ground floor level (to NW and SE ends of entrance elevation to SW). Square-headed window opening to the SE end of the rear elevation (NE) at first floor level. Single-bay one-and-a-half storey rubble stone annexes (ext. dims c. 2.8m NW-SE x c. 1.85m NE-SW) are attached to either gable end of main structure (NW and SE) formerly with mono-pitched roofs (now collapsed) that sloped downwards from gable walls of main structure; annexe now partially collapsed. The barracks form the enclosing element to the centre of the NE side of a rectangular-plan enclosure (ext. dims c. 26.5m NE-SW; x c. 24m NW-SE) that is defined elsewhere by well-constructed rubble stone boundary walls (wall T c. 0.6m; max H c. 2.5m). Boundary wall to the NW side of enclosure now collapsed\removed to centre (gap c. 4-5m NE-SW). Square-plan bastions project outwards from the boundary walls to each corner of the enclosure (N, S, E, and W) each originally with two splayed gun vertical gun loops to provide enfilading fire along each wall; bastions now largely collapsed (bastion to S now totally collapsed). A well-preserved World War II-era Lookout Post (LOP 34) is located c. 32m to the W of the enclosed barrack site. The site is one of four Enclosed Barracks of extremely similar form that were constructed around the coast of County Kerry (Kerrigan 1995, 162-3). Although some uncertainty remains about the age of the sites, all four of the enclosed barracks were likely constructed between 1808 and 1812. The sites seem to have been specifically related to the system of signal stations\towers constructed around the Irish coast between 1804 and 1806, added in areas where intervisibility between signal towers had proved difficult. However, this example at Bolus Head is located close to the site of a signal tower (KE096-024----; located c. 560m to the WNW). It is not clear if these larger and more complex additions to the system were designed to house larger signal crews, or if they were designed to house the same size signal crews in more comfort than was to be found at the unpopular signal towers. The Enclosed Barracks were presumably abandoned by 1815, when the signal towers around the SW coast were decommissioned. Compiled by: Stuart Rathbone Updated on: 14/10/22