Fulacht fia, Annagh More, Co. Kerry

Co. Kerry |

Settlement Sites

Fulacht fia, Annagh More, Co. Kerry

On a west-facing slope of rough hill pasture above the valley of the Flesk River in County Kerry, a low horseshoe-shaped mound sits quietly beside a stream.

It measures roughly 9.5 metres north to south, 6 metres east to west, and rises to about 1.45 metres, its opening directed towards a wet area to the east. To most walkers passing through, it would read as little more than a grassy undulation in the ground. It is, in fact, a fulacht fia, one of the most common yet most quietly puzzling monument types in the Irish archaeological landscape.

A fulacht fia is essentially a prehistoric cooking site, and perhaps also a place for heating water for other purposes, whether bathing, textile processing, or brewing. The typical arrangement involves a trough dug into the ground, a nearby water source, and a large supply of stones that could be heated in a fire and then dropped into the water to bring it rapidly to temperature. Over time, those thermally shattered and fire-cracked stones accumulated into the characteristic horseshoe mound that surrounds the trough on three sides, with the open end facing the water or the working area. At Annagh More, the mound is composed of burnt material and has its opening oriented towards the wet ground to the east, which corresponds precisely to this pattern. The stream on the south-east bank would have provided a reliable water source. Some of the mound material is exposed at the southern edge, offering a glimpse of the dark, fractured stone beneath the turf. Particularly striking is the density of such monuments in this part of Kerry: two further examples lie approximately 50 metres to the south, one confirmed and one tentatively identified, suggesting that this stretch of hillside saw sustained activity across generations rather than a single episode of use.

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 Fulacht fia, Annagh More, 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