Clochan, Com Dhíneol Theas, Co. Kerry

Co. Kerry |

Settlement Sites

Clochan, Com Dhíneol Theas, Co. Kerry

On the western slopes of the ridge running from Mount Eagle to Slea Head, a small stone structure sits tucked against a natural rock outcrop, doing what it has apparently always done: keeping the weather out.

This is a clochan, a type of drystone beehive hut built without mortar using a corbelling technique, in which each course of stones projects slightly inward over the one below until the walls close to form a roof. Here, though, the builder took a practical shortcut, using five large flat slabs to complete the roof rather than corbelling all the way to the top. The slabs step upward from the entrance, which faces northeast, giving the whole structure a low, deliberate profile against the hillside.

The clochan is oval in plan, measuring roughly three metres by one point six metres, with drystone walls rising to about one point two metres before the roofing slabs take over. Outside the entrance there are possible traces of an enclosure or small courtyard, suggesting the structure may once have sat within a defined space rather than standing entirely alone on the slope. Clochans of this kind are found in some number across the Dingle Peninsula, and this example was recorded by J. Cuppage in the Corca Dhuibhne archaeological survey published in 1986, which catalogued the extraordinary density of early and medieval remains across this stretch of west Kerry.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Clochan, Com Dhíneol Theas, Co. Kerry. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement