What is recorded here

Dooneen is a circular rath on the SW slopes of Letter South, Kerry, overlooking Kenmare Bay. Its earth and stone bank rises 2.5m above a narrow fosse, while collapsed drystone facing hints at inner chambers now lost to erosion. Local story claims an underground passage emerges here, yet no entrance remains visible. The fort stands half-swallowed by vegetation, preserving more mystery than measurement.

Internal diam. 21.7m N-S, 22.5m E-W Dooneen/An Dúinín: This heavily overgrown circular rath is located on top of a low rise on the SW slopes of Letter South, providing an excellent outlook over Kenmare Bay to S. The enclosing fosse averages 2m wide and falls .3m below external ground level. The bank, composed of earth and stone, rises to an average external height of 2.5m and is up to 3m in basal width. Regularly coursed drystone facing revets its inner flank. This has collapsed in places, but elsewhere it is preserved from .45m to 1m high. It is not clear if the much eroded gap at SE marks the location of the original entrance to the rath. It is locally reputed that there is a Man-made underground passage (KE092-005001-) at this site, but no surface trace of it is evident. 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. 544. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.