Leacanabuaile

Leacanabuaile
Native name Leaca na Buaile (Irish)
Location of Leacanabuaile in Ireland
Type	stone ringfort
Location	Kimego West, Caherciveen, County Kerry, Ireland
Coordinates	51.958258°N 10.261868°W / 51.958258; -10.261868
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Built	c. 9th century AD
Architectural style(s)	Gaelic Ireland
Owner	State[1]
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Leacanabuaile Cashel[2]
Reference no.	414

Leacanabuaile is a stone ringfort (cashel) and National Monument in County Kerry, Ireland.[3] Leacanabuaile is immediately northwest of Cahergal, 3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Cahirciveen.[4]

History

The cashel was built around the 9th century AD as a defended farmstead.[5]

The Irish name means "hillside of the milking-place".[6]

The site was excavated in 1939–40; objects found included iron knives and pins, bone combs, bronze, millstones, and lead, dating from the 9th or 10th century AD.[7][8]

Description

Leacanabuaile is a circular stone ringfort (caiseal) of internal diameter 30 m (98 ft) with outer walls over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high and 3.3 m (11 ft) thick.[9] Protected on three sides by steep grassy slopes, the entrance is on the east side.[10] It is built of drystone with gaps filled in with rubble.[7][11]

Inside are three stone beehive houses and a souterrain.[12]

References

1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
2. "National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship" (PDF). Ireland: National Monuments Service. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
3. • Ó'Ríordáin, Seán P. (23 September 2017). "The Excavation of Leacanabuaile Stone Fort Near Caherciveen, Co. Kerry" – via Google Books.
   • Steves, Rick; O'Connor, Pat (5 July 2016). Rick Steves Best of Ireland. Avalon Publishing. ISBN 9781631213205 – via Google Books.
   • "Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society". The Society. 23 September 2017 – via Google Books.
4. Activeme.ie (6 November 2012). "Leacanabuaile Stone Fort Walking Route, Kerry - Activeme.ie". www.activeme.ie.
5. "Leacanabuaile Fort (Cahersiveen, Ireland): Award Winning - Top Tips Before You Go (with Photos) - TripAdvisor". www.tripadvisor.ie.
6. • Halpin, Andrew; Newman, Conor (23 September 2017). Ireland: An Oxford Archaeological Guide to Sites from Earliest Times to AD 1600. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192806710 – via Google Books.
7. Tibus, Website design and development by. "Leacanabuaile Fort - Attractions - Museums and Attractions - All Ireland - Republic Of Ireland - Kerry - Cahersiveen - Discover Ireland". www.discoverireland.ie.
8. "Cahergal and Leacanabuaile Forts, Ballycarbery Castle - Voices from the Dawn". www.voicesfromthedawn.com. 15 October 2010.
9. Henderson, Jon (1 December 2007). The Atlantic Iron Age: Settlement and Identity in the First Millennium BC. Routledge. ISBN 9781134076123 – via Google Books.
10. "Cahergal and Leacanabuaile - Old Irish Stone Forts or Ring Forts".
11. Cockroach. "Leacanabuaile Stone Fort - ticket prices and opening hours information - map". directionireland.com.
12. "Saints and Stones: Leacanabuaile". www.saintsandstones.net.