The site in question is a rath, a type of early medieval enclosure, typically circular or near-circular, defined by an earthen bank and an outer ditch known as a fosse. This particular example is univallate, meaning it has a single such bank rather than the two or three concentric rings found at more elaborate sites. Its interior sits noticeably higher than the surrounding land, and tradition holds that a souterrain runs beneath it. A souterrain is an underground stone-lined passage, often associated with Irish raths, probably used for storage, shelter, or concealment. No trace of it is visible today.

The rath itself occupies a commanding position with clear sightlines in all directions, suggesting its builders chose the spot deliberately, as was common practice for these enclosures, which served as farmsteads for prosperous families during the early medieval period, roughly the fifth to twelfth centuries. The tradition of a souterrain here was recorded by C. Toal in the North Kerry Archaeological Survey, published in 1995, but even at that point no surface evidence survived. Whether the passage was filled in, collapsed, or was always more rumour than reality is something the field keeps to itself.