Antiquities | History |
Antiquities
The dolmens of Co. Kerry (Self Catering, Kerry, Ireland) number, according to Borlase, twenty-two. Two in the townland of Gortna-gulla may be mentioned, as they have been examined and planned in recent years. Both are wedge-shaped structures and belong to a type common in the South of Ireland.
Co. Kerry contains many forts of the Cashel type, the best-known example of these being Staigue Fort, situated in Kilcrohan parish, barony of Iveragh, Co. Kerry (Accommodation, Kerry, Ireland). It is composed of a circular wall 89 ft. in diameter, nearly 13 ft. thick at the base, and 7 ft. at the top. On the north and west sides the wall is 18 ft. high; the north side of the wall is still perfect, and the coping-stones are flags about 3 feet long ; the construction of the wall is interesting, the stones being laid as headers and filled in with small stones. There is a square-headed doorway with sloping sides on the south ; and there are two small chambers in the fort-one on the west and one on the north side. There are ten sets of stairs around the inside of the wall, leading to platforms and forming the most interesting feature of the fort.
The Kerry (Bed and Breakfasts, Kerry, Ireland) forts, containing stone huts, or Clochans, are very numerous ; they exist in hundreds, and in many cases arc still intact. The remarkable early settlement in the south-west of the barony of Corka-guiney contains many such buildings. It consists of a group of structures which lie along the sea-coast between Ventry Harbour and Dunmore Head, about ten miles from Dingle. The settlement covers about four townlands and verges on three others ; the remains cluster thickly round the lower parts of Mount Eagle and Beennacouma. It is not visible from the road, with the exceptions of the large forts of Dun Beag, and in Kilvickadownig. This remarkable site contains 515 forts, numerous huts, pillar stones, and other remains. The most important building of the entire series is Dun Beag (the little fort), one of the most striking pre-historic antiquities of Ireland. It consists of a stone wall, which cuts off a promontory protected on the landward side by an elaborate system of earthen walls and trenches, the area enclosed being thus triangular in shape, defended on the seaward side with great 
precipices. The height of the fort is about 90-100 ft. above the level of the sea. The edge of the cliff was protected by a dry stone wall, of which about 18 ft. in length and 2 ft. 2 in. in thickness remains at the south point. One stone building or Clochdn remains inside the fort; it is circular, with a diameter of about 37 ft.; it had a domed roof and a movable door. The great wall of the fort is 139! ft. in length, and varies in width from 8 ft. to n ft. Its internal face batters by irregular stages marked off by terraces, which doubtless served the purpose of enabling the defenders to mount the walls and reconnoitre. The doorway is remarkable; it is nearly 7 ft. in height and the same in breadth, with a reveal for the reception of a movable door ; to the west and east of it there are several chambers. It contained a souterrain which maintained a straight course for a distance of 45 ft. The defences on the landward side consist of an alternation of fosse and vallum. The fort has suffered from a restoration undertaken some years ago.
Kilvickadownig is another important fort belonging to this group; it contains within it three cells, and there is one outside. The wealth of antiquities in this early settlement is astonishing ; there are 414 clochans, 2 promontory forts, 7 raths, 15 forts, 12 crosses, 18 standing and inscribed stones, including two oghams, 19 souterrains, and 29 other ancient buildings and enclosures, which make a total of over 500 ancient remains. It is not easy to estimate the earliest period at which this site was inhabited, but, judging from the inscribed stones, Christianity was introduced not long after the original settlement. From the scanty remains of personal antiquities recovered it would appear that the general standard of comfort was low. The site and its antiquities have been surveyed by Professor R. A. S. Macalister, 1 and any person proposing to visit the remains should first read over his monograph.