County: Kerry Site name: BALLYNABOOLY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 43:218 Licence number: 99E0204
Author: Isabel Bennett
Site type: Ringfort - rath
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 443038m, N 602238m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.149656, -10.293695
Kerry County Council considered it necessary to carry out road-widening in Ballynabooly townland, near Dingle, in an area considered to be dangerous. The area about which there was most concern was a bend caused by the presence of a univallate ringfort, around which the road skirted. Although no damage to the monument was proposed, it was considered necessary to bring the edge of the road up to the bank of the monument, which necessitated some excavation work in the area of the fosse nearest the road, where a stone wall was to be built. Excavation of this area took place at the end of June 1999.
The area investigated measured 31m by 2.65m. After removal of topsoil by mechanical means, all further work was undertaken by hand, with assistance from staff of the Dingle Depot of the County Council.
Between 0.7m and 1.3m below modern ground level was excavated, and there was much collapse from a break in the bank in this area. Modern artefacts only (including a water pipe at 0.55m below modern ground level) were found. No definite fosse edge was found, although the area excavated may have been too small to encounter it. The only feature noted was a fire-reddened area, up to 0.06m thick, and 0.83m by 0.55m. It seemed to be sitting on the old ground level, but further exploration did not take place owing to the limited brief of the excavation.
The area excavated was trunked with stone, and a stone wall was built upon it, up against the ringfort bank.
Glen Fahan, Ventry, Tralee, Co. Kerry
