county list
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SELECTED MONUMENTS IN COUNTY KERRY Place-names in italics refer to listed entries. |
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Ardamore:
Stone-row
Q 523 000 Sheet 70 400 metres N of a by-road, and 7.5 km E by S of Dingle, the highest stone of this 3-stone row (plus outlier with petroglyphs on it - on the far right of the photo below ) is 3 metres.
~ 500 metres SW of the Ardamore alignment, in Aghacarrible (V 511 997) 20 metres S of a by-road, in a field entered by the leftmost of two field gates, and on either side of the right-hand field-fence, is a large boulder with cups and rings, gutters, and other typical petroglyphic designs.
~ 700 metres SSW in Doonmanagh (V 525 996), 150 metres W of a rough track zig-zagging down towards the sea, is a wedge-tomb, lurking behind a wall about 300 metres SW of a radio transmitter, but visible from the road which passes the mast. "Poukauncorrin" (The Fairies' Cave) is a small well-preserved tomb. At least one sidestone has been removed from the NW side, together with some of the cairn, to provide access and make the tomb a snug shelter or habitation (cf Haroldstown in county Carlow). The site affords superb views to the W and NW, and to the E and SE towards Magillicuddy's Reeks. ~ About 400 metres NE of Doonmanagh, to the N of the narrow winding road which passes the transmitter in Graigue (Q 532 003) is a remarkable tall standing-stone split vertically in two, one piece leaning on what appears to be the remains of a second stone.
~ 6 km W by S in Ballintaggart (V 464 997), about 300 metres S of the Anascaul-Dingle road, is an ancient circular enclosure on the top of a knoll, containing nine smooth, cigar-shaped pulvinar stones from Minard - three of them christianised with crosses. They have various ogam inscriptions, including one reading TRIA MAQA MAILAGNI (The three sons of Malagnos) with CURCITTI on the back, and a cross with triple ends - which is the Icelandic "End Strife" pictogram.
Another reads CUNUMACCQQI AVI CORBRI (Conmac, grandson of Coirpre). Another reads NETTA LAMINACCA KOI MAQQI MUCOI DOVIN[IA]S (The nephew of Laminacca, the son of the people of Dovinia), and has a cross with expanded terminals. Dovinia was the ancestral goddess of the Corcu Duibne after whom comes the other name of the peninsula: Corcaguiny. Another of the stones also mentions the goddess in its inscription MAQQI IARI KOI MAQQI MUCCOI DOVVINIAS. It has been suggested that the duplication of consonants was a ploy by literate stonegravers working on piece-rate to cheat their illiterate employers. ~ 9.5 km W by N, 800 metres ESE of the village of Milltown (Q 429 010), almost opposite the graveyard and to the W of the road from Dingle to Ventry, on top of a low cairn is a boulder almost 4 metres long, decorated with cups and circles and grooves. Nearby are standing-stones, and another boulder with markings. To the N are the two 'Gates of Glory' standing-stones (one broken), and 40 metres W, by the roadside, is another standing-stone 2.4 metres high. ~ 20 km W by N, in another townland called Graigue (Q 316 029), close to Clogher Head and visible to the NW of the R.559, is a handsome standing-stone less than 2 metres tall, but from which is a spectacular view NE towards Mount Brandon. ~ Slightly over 10 kms W by S in Burnham, (V 421 998) in the grounds of the Earl of Ventry's former residence of that name, now a college (Coláiste Íde), are seven ogam stones of which 5 are erect and two are recumbent and cigar-shaped as at Ballintaggart. Nearby are a small cross-slab and small bullaun. Most were brought here from Kilrannig (see under Dunbeg, below).
~ Just under 2 kms E by N in Lugnagappul (Q 542 003), marked Clocha Ogaim on the map, in a field close to the road called "Pairc na Foladh": the Field of Blood, is a line of three remarkable Ogam stones which are small, smooth pulvinars, one of which is beautifully egg-shaped and reads GOSSUCTTIAS. As is frequently the case with Irish monuments, there are white quartzite pebbles at the base of the stones. ~ 4.4 kms WNW of Ardamore in Ballineetig (Q 478 008) is "Gallaunmore"(An Gallán Mór) a Standing-stone some 5 metres high. ~ 10.7 km WNW in Kilfountan (marked Gallán on the map at Q 425 035) is a fine conspicuous standing-stone, visible from the by-road to the E, and from the Early Christian site (350 metres SW) with a superb cross-decorated pillar which bears the name of the saint: Finten. ~ Just over 3.5 km NNW of Kilfountan is the well-signposted monastic site of Kilmalkedar. A short way along the road to the W of the churchyard, on the right, is a kissing-gate. In this field a Fogra sign is visible atop a boulder some 2.5 metres square: a six-basin bullaun, one of whose depressions is nearly 50 cms across, and another one which is shallow and probably unfinished. The rod in the photo below is a metre long.
The Dingle (or Corkaguiney) Peninsula is littered with Standing-stones (marked Gallán [singular] and Galláin [plural] on the map), as well as a rich variety of Early Christian sites with cross-pillars, Ogam-stones, cross-slabs, circular stone huts [Clocháns] etc. Almost all are clearly marked on the map. Two more sites at the Western end of the peninsula are Dunbeg and Kinard East, listed separately below. Aughacasla
North: Standing-stone Behind a cottage just S. of a caravan park is a fine standing-stone which has been altered in recent times to produce an anthropomorphic figure some 3 metres high. The cement-alterations are now starting to flake away, making the stone a remarkable piece of anonymous sculpture (modern 'folk-art') almost on a par with Celtic carved stones. Ballynahow
Beg: Petroglyphic boulder Behind a house to the
S of a by-road, 7 km NE of Cahirsiveen (marked Rock Art on
the map), in the second field (50 metres) from the road, to
the W of a hedge and bank is a boulder whose exposed E face
is 135 cm long and 81 cm high, decorated with Bronze Age motifs
such as ringed cupmarks with 'tails' or 'gutters' (looking a
little like frying-pans with fried eggs), un-ringed cupmark,
and a grid of grooves. It is unusual for petroglyphs to be carved
on the vertical face of a boulder. ~ 10.5 km ENE, in Coomasaharn (V 632 852) near the N end of Coomasaharn Lake are several horizontal rock surfaces decorated with circles, lines, cups and rings. The best surface is 100 metres W of a modern bungalow at the end of the tarred road. ~ 12 kms NE in Coolnaharragill (V 633 886) in the front garden of (the former ?) Jackson's guesthouse to the S of the Cahirsiveen-Killorglin road, is a boulder decorated with cups and rings. In the same townland is a stone fort or cashel with an S-shaped souterrain. ~ 25 kms ESE are several petroglyphic boulders at Derrynablaha. ~ Almost 10 kms WSW is Leacanabuaile stone fort and other forts nearby. Coom:
Wedge-tomb The picturesque "Labbydermot"
lies 200 metres S of a road-junction, 3.3 km NW of Ballinskelligs.
This well-preserved and picturesque tomb's main chamber is covered
by a capstone just under 3 metres long. There is an opening
in the narrow E end which may be original. The antechamber/portico
is unroofed and made with high slabs, the largest being 1.5
metres high. There are two closing-slabs with a deliberate gap
in the N side. Derrynablaha:
Petroglyphs 1.5 km
E of Lough Brin, scattered over a wide area to the E and W of
the road through the beautiful Ballaghabeama Gap, and surrounding
the only inhabited house (in 1975) for miles, are over 20 decorated
rocks. They are very difficult to find on the boulder-strewn
hillside, but perhaps the easiest to locate are those for which
the grid reference above is given, found by following the S
branch of a stream from the bridge about 300 metres S of the
abovementioned farmhouse, then up the hillside for about 400
metres. A prominent table-like rock a short distanced S (left)
of the stream - and visible from the road - is decorated with
numerous cups and penannular rings and grooves. beside it is
a small rock whose vertical (W) face is decorated with the rare
motif of cups and rings surrounded by a ring of small cups and
a large indented ring, similar to those at Ormaig in the Kilmartin
Valley of Argyll.
About 200 metres E
of these, about halfway between them and the second bridge (200
metres SE of the first one) is a low altar-like rock with a
curious design of cup-marks and irregular, roughly-circular
grooves. ~ 9.7 km SE (6.4 km WNW of Kenmare at V 848 734)) just 20 metres W of a by-road, in a field just S of the (?former) Downings' house at Poulacapple in Rossacoosane, is a single boulder (not marked on the map) with a curious and interesting pattern of grooves and cups & rings. Dromatouk:
Stone circle, etc. 4.8 km ENE of Kenmare and about 350 metres above the road which follows the Roughty river on its S side, is a neat little 5-stone circle. 220 metres SW is a low cairn some 7 metres in diameter with a single pillarstone 3 metres to the N of it. 400 metres NE of the cairn is a group of three standing-stones not in line, the highest and midmost bearing on its cracked and fissured surface an Ogam inscription which has been interpreted as TAGNILOCID MAQI ALOTTO. ~ 5 km ESE is the stone circle at Gurteen. Drombohilly
Upper: Stone circle 2.4 km NE of Lauragh Bridge and 350 metres E of a by-road from which it is visible, this fine stone circle crowns a knoll and offers magnificent views. It is unusual for the pillar-like stones used in its construction. Nine stones out of a probable 11 now remain (one of the missing stones being the 'axial' or 'recumbent'), enclosing an area over 8 metres in diameter. A short distance to the E is a rectangular grass-covered stone-built mound which may have something to do with the circle. ~ Just over 200 metres S in the same townland is a very neat little wedge-tomb (V 789 606) still partly-buried in its cairn, which has some fine quartz pebbles on top. The door-slab has been pulled aside. ~ 5.6 km SW, in Cashelkeelty
East (V 748 575) , 800 metres S of the Lauragh-Castletownberehaven
road and 3.2 km WSW of Lauragh Bridge, up a forest track and
past a beautiful waterfall, the remains of a 5-stone circle
beside a rock outcrop eventually, suddenly and dramatically
come into view. The two portal stones of this little 5-stone
stone circle are missing. Immediately S of the circle are 3
outliers from 1 to 3 metres tall, in a line over 6 metres long.
The site, as is to be expected, commands impressive views. To
the S and E are traces of prehistoric field-walls. ~ 6 kms NE, in a beautiful setting between the two loughs of Cloonee and Inchiquin at Uragh (V 832 625), is a fine 5-stone circle, with a blade-like axial stone and a huge outlier 3 metres high. It affords splendid views, as does the second stone circle in the townland (V 825 630), 800 metres to the SW. Difficult to find among the bushes, eleven low stones surround a central boulder-burial. Outside the circle are two more boulder-burials. ~ 6 kms SW is the fine circle at Dromroe (V 882 658). ~ 4 kms SSW is a rare Irish "four-poster" stone circle mysteriously hidden in a grove on the island of Knockcappul in the Kenmare estuary (V 768 577). It is accessible only at low tide. A gallows stood here also in the 18th century. ~ 6.4 km SW of Dromobohilly and 2.4 km SSE of Cashelkeelty is another stone circle dramatically situated in Shronebirrane (V 753 554). Some 7 metres in diameter, it is 4.8 km SW of Lauragh Bridge and visible to the right of a road leading up a dramatic glen towards Eskatarriff and The Pocket. Eight tall stones out of a probable 13 survive, set unusually close together. Opposite the tallest (entrance or portal) stone is the axial stone, with a straight top edge. The other entrance-stone is missing. A bungalow has been built right beside the circle, and the owners have been attempting to charge money for access, which may be linked to the signposting of the monument. ~ 8.3 km (WSW) at Glashananinnaun (V 719 565) is a stone circle reminiscent of the 'coves' of Stanton Drew and Avebury in England, now comprising 3 large and equal slabs measuring 1.8 metres wide by at least 1.6 metres tall, set at right angles to each other to form three sides of a cube. They are too far apart to be the sides of a tomb-chamber. ~ 9.6 km SW is the superb circle at Ardgroom Outward in county Cork. Dromroe:
Stone circle and Boulder-burial About 5.6 km SW of
Kenmare, approached via a track leading SW from a by-road,
above a farm, a very picturesquely-sited circle encloses an
area over 9 metres in diameter. Three of the 13 stones (including
one of the entrance- or portal-stones) are fallen. In the centre
is a boulder-burial set with its long axis coinciding with that
of the circle whose flat-topped axial or recumbent stone is
at the SW. The three supporting stones are also flat-topped,
and between them and the large covering-stone are chocking-stones.
Nearby is an unique internal monolith. Dunbeg:
Promontory fort click
on the thumbnail for a larger picture
3.2 km E of Slea Head on the Dingle Peninsula, and S of the road in the townland of Fahan, across a field, this fine fort is a triangular headland defended on the landward side by a massive, restored dry-stone wall with elaborate entrance and internal terraces, and to seaward by high, eroded cliffs. The side-walls of the long, lintelled entrance are recessed to hold sliding defensive beams, and have guard-chambers on each side with squint-holes for surveillance of the passage. From below the passage a long souterrain leads out at least as far as the second of 4 parallel defensive stone-faced banks with ditches. Inside the fort are remains of a large circular stone hut (clochán) with a square interior. From it a stone drain leads to the cliff-edge, where some traces of a curtain-wall survive. ~ Between Dunbeg promontory
fort and Slea Head are many stone forts containing circular
stone huts or clocháns of one, 2 and 3 chambers, especially
in the contiguous townlands of Fahan and Glenfahan. Unfortunately,
many locals are charging the unwary to cross their land to see
them. Others are demolishing forts which are on land they have
recently acquired, as scandalously happened with the huge promontory
fort, Dún Mór
(V 305 982), overlooking the Blasket Islands.
Eightercua:
Stone-row On the crest of a ridge to the E of the main road 1.6 km SSE of Waterville, 4 tall slabs from 1.8 to 3 metres high run from E to W. From one of these an orthostatic slab runs S and looks like part of a tomb-chamber or a kist set in an oval cairn 1 metre high. The association of standing-stones with cairns is not uncommon in Kerry. ~ An "unclassified megalithic tomb between the Finglas River and the sea" in Ballybrack is known as Ballybrack Dolmen. ~ 3.3.km S is Loher stone fort or cashel (V 506 615), whose walls survive to a height of over three metres and are 3 metres thick, sloping nicely inwards as they rise. On climbing the internal stairs (restored) you can see how well they are built. The inner and outer surfaces are finely built with dry-stone techniques and the gap between is filled with loose rubble. There is a single massive doorway leading through into the inner area with the remains of two houses, one rectangular and one circular, with walls surviving to 1.5 metres. The site is protected on three sides by high mountains, and the views are spectacular. To the west there is plenty of good land and, beyond that, Ballinskelligs Bay. The fort is well-placed to see any vessel that might come in to land. ~ 4.4
kms S by W of the Eightercua stone-row is Coumatloukane "Boardeen"
- see under Staigue. Feaghna:
Bullaun 8.8 km SE of Kenmare,
to the S of a ruined church which is to the N of a by-road is
a remarkable smooth-topped boulder with 8 hollows in it, ranging
from small cup-marks to hemispherical basins about 30 sms across.
The larger ones carry oval stones latterly known as 'butterlumps'
. These are turned in their basins in the final stages of the
Easter 'pattern' or 'turas' which includes a well to
the E of the church, and part of the church wall. The 'patrún'
or 'pattern' is evidently of extreme antiquity - as indeed
are most in Ireland - going back at least 2000 years. In the
middle of the boulder a cylindrical stone of phallic shape stands
in a circular holed stone.
~ 9 kms WNW is Dromroe stone circle. ~ 12 km SSE in county Cork are Mill Little stone circle and boulder-burials. Gurteen:
Stone circle 9.5 km E of Kenmare and 3.2 km S of Kilgarvan, to the S of a track, on a ridge to the N of the Glashagoruv river, the eleven stones of this circle (10 metres in diameter) are set in splendid landscape. The large axial or recumbent stone has a bevelled top edge. Opposite it, two portal-stones lurch to the E. A large boulder stands in the middle: the capstone of a boulder-burial. Two stones stand outside the circle to form a kind of approach-passage, as at Gowlane North in county Cork. ~5 km WNW is the five-stone circle at Dromatouk. Kenmare:
Stone circle and Boulder-burial On the SW outskirts of Kenmare, 600 metres SW of Cromwell's Fort (a 17th century castle), stand fifteen stones (two prostrate) which enclose an oval area over 16 metres across, in the middle of which is a good example of a boulder-burial comprising three small stones and a large capstone. Recently, outrageously, this fine circle has been incorporated in an expensive private garden! ~ 3.2 km NE of Kenmare in Gortagass, down a lane to the NW of the road to Kilgarvan, just on the other side of the dismantled railway is Cloch a Caipín, a presumably natural curiosity (not marked on the map). A very large round boulder sits neatly on a large cylindrical boulder - resembling a giant mushroom. Kilcoolaght
East: Ogam stones A little more than half-way between Beaufort and Killorglin there is an enclosure containing six re-erected ogam stones: broken sandstone pillars, rectangular in plan, with deeply-incised inscriptions.
Kinard East: Ogam Stone Half-buried at the W end of the old graveyard is a rounded pulvinar stone similar to one of the stones at Lugnagappul (almost 5 km ENE). On the side is a well-cut Ogam inscription reading MORIANI, while on the E face is a large square divided by a cross. My colleague Tom FourWinds reports, however, that the stone cannot now be found. ~ About 250 metres SE of the pulvinar, in the second field above a group of cottages to the right of a track, is a stone - some 3.5 metres long - decorated with grooves and cups, many with rings. During field clearance it was moved to the edge of the field so that the petroglyphs were invisible and protected on the lower surface. My colleague Tom FourWinds visited it in 2007, by which time it had been turned over, so that the petroglyphs are weathering. He took the photo below.
Leacanabuaile
Stone fort Prominently sited on top of a massive rock, 3.2 km WNW of Cahirsiveen, this fine stone fort has a reconstructed dry-stone wall 3 metres thick (but now only 1.2 metres high), adapting to irregular outcrops of rock. There is a wall-entrance on the SW and remains of 2 terraces on the NE. Steps lead up to them at 10 points. There were formerly 3 beehive-shaped huts inside, but only one survives, with a (later) square house built against it and on top of the ruins to two other houses. The round house abuts the wall of the fort, and from its doorway a hole in the floor leads into a souterrain some 10 metres long, ending in a wall-chamber. There is another wall-chamber, entered by a short passage, in the NE part of the wall. On the aerial view below, Leacanabuaile is top left and Cahergal (see below) bottom right.
~ 300 metres N of Leacanabuaile is another stone fort called Cahernagat (Cathair na gCat). ~ 400 metres SE of Leacanabuaile is Cahergal, a fine but ruinous stone fort, in the centre of which is a large oval dry-stone house with walls surviving to a height of 1.5 metres (see photograph above). ~ Just over 8 km SW, in Cool East (V 373 755), N of the northern (minor) road leading SW from Knightstown to Bray Head, is Killadreenagh, an ancient burial ground with an Ogam pillar some 1.9 metres high, engraved with a Latin cross. About 100 metres NW of this, on higher ground,
is a low wedge-tomb with a portico and a single capstone measuring 3 by 2.5 metres. South of the road is another Ogam pillar. There are several pillarstones and an alleged (but dubious) stone circle in the landscape to the S and E. ~ Almost 10 km ENE are Ballyanahow Beg petroglyphs. Lissyviggeen:
Stone circle and outliers Only 3.2 km E of Killarney,
this too-well-known seven-stone circle within a low surrounding
bank of earth (beyond which stand two large outliers) is closed
to casual visitors, due to the amount of litter and other depredation.
Serious visitors can obtain permission. Staigue:
Stone fort and Petroglyphs This well-known and restored fort 27 metres in diameter, is splendidly situated at the head of a valley opening S to the sea., and is surrounded by a ditch over 8 metres wide and, at present, 1.8 metres deep. The massive wall reaches a height of almost 5.5 metres and is about 4 metres thick at the base, tapering to about half as thick at the top. Vertical joints in the walls show that gaps left to allow access of carts etc. during building were filled in later. The doorway is tapering and lintelled. Inside is an elaborate system of stairways leading to terraces, and corbelled cells in the wall reached by passages.
~ About 800 metres S of the fort and about 100 metres E of a disused bridge (beside which the road bends to the W) is a large outcrop of rock, visible from the bridge. On it is a fine series of cups and circles and grooves extending for 12 metres along the rock surface. ~ 7.2 kms SW, just 800 metres W of Caherdaniel hamlet and about 200 metres W of the road to Waterville is another stone fort, beautifully situated on a commanding outcrop of rock, whose switchback irregularities make the construction most impressive. Its walls are up to 4.5 metres high and enclose an area 25 metres in diameter. ~ 1.5 km SW of Caherdaniel, immediately S of a by-road and overlooking the bay is Darrynane (usually called Derrynane) ogam stone (V 535 589), a tall megalithic slab with only traces of an inscription. ~ 3.2 km W by N of Caherdaniel, just N of the main road to Waterville where the Kerry Way joins it in Coomatloukane, near the summit of the Coomakista Pass, is "The Boardeen" (Bord Eoghan Fhinn or Fingal's Table), a conspicuous but denuded wedge-tomb, whose dramatically-tilted capstone is 4 metres long by 2.4 metres wide and 1.5 metres thick. There are no fewer than three other wedge-tombs in the same townland on the other side of the road. Another conspicuous Boardeen is, however, a natural feature. |
