Corkaguiny is a barony of County Kerry, in the historical province of Munster (Irish: Corca Dhuibhne), covering 566 km² of land. The barony records 3,290 NMS archaeological sites and 67 NIAH listed buildings, placing it at around the 97th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the top tenth of all baronies for sites per km². Dated archaeological evidence runs from the Mesolithic through to the Modern, spanning 9 of 9 archaeological periods, placing the barony in the 88th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for chronological depth. This means it is in the top fifth of all baronies for chronological depth. The largest dated subset of recorded sites dates to the Iron Age. Logainm flags 71 placenames in the barony as carrying a recognised heritage root; the largest share — around 51% — are names associated with pre-christian defensive.
Heritage at a glance
Percentile rankings throughout this profile compare each barony only against the other 279 Republic of Ireland baronies.
The recorded heritage of Corkaguiny
The National Monuments Service Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) is the statutory inventory of archaeological sites for the Republic of Ireland, maintained by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Sites recorded here include earthworks, ringforts, megalithic tombs, ecclesiastical remains, and post-medieval features; not every record is legally protected, but each is registered as a monument of archaeological interest.
The National Monuments Service records 3,290 archaeological sites in Corkaguiny, putting it at the 97th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the top tenth of all baronies for sites per km². Protection coverage is near-universal — 3,239 sites (98%) fall within a recorded monument protection zone, indicating an extensively surveyed landscape. The record is dominated by domestic structures — house sites and settlement remains (1,047 sites, 32% of the total), with defensive sites forming a substantial secondary presence (830 sites, 25%). Hut site is the most prevalent type, making up 31% of the barony's recorded sites (1,009 records) — well above the ROI average of 5% across all baronies where this type occurs. Hut site is a low stone or earthen foundation enclosing a small circular or oval area, generally interpreted as a former dwelling, of any date from prehistory to the medieval period. Other significant types include Ringfort – rath (343) and Souterrain (236). Ringfort – rath is an earthen ringfort enclosed by a bank and external ditch — the most common Early Medieval farmstead, broadly dated 500–1000 AD; Souterrain is an underground stone-built passage and chamber, generally Early Medieval and often associated with ringforts as a defensive or storage feature. Across the barony's 566 km², this gives a recorded density of 5.81 sites per km².
Most common monument types
Hover or tap a monument type to see its definition.
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Hut site a low stone or earthen foundation enclosing a small circular or oval area, generally interpreted as a former dwelling, of any date from prehistory to the medieval period | 1009 |
| Ringfort – rath an earthen ringfort enclosed by a bank and external ditch — the most common Early Medieval farmstead, broadly dated 500–1000 AD | 343 |
| Souterrain an underground stone-built passage and chamber, generally Early Medieval and often associated with ringforts as a defensive or storage feature | 236 |
| Enclosure a banked or ditched feature of uncertain type, used as a catch-all where the original function cannot be determined from surface evidence | 162 |
| Standing stone a deliberately set upright stone, used variously as a Bronze/Iron Age burial marker, route marker or commemorative monument | 108 |
| Ringfort – cashel the stone-walled equivalent of the rath, found mainly in upland or western areas, broadly dated 500–1000 AD | 70 |
Chronological distribution
The dated archaeological record for Corkaguiny spans from the Mesolithic through to the Modern, with activity attested across 9 of 9 archaeological periods. This is the 88th percentile across ROI baronies for chronological depth — an above-average span. Every period from earliest to latest is represented in the record — an unbroken sequence of dated activity across the full chronological span. Activity concentrates most heavily in the Iron Age (900 sites, 43% of dated material), with the Early Medieval forming a secondary peak (741 sites, 36%). A further 1,212 recorded sites (37% of the overall NMS register for the barony) carry no period attribution — appearing as 'Unknown' in the bar chart below. This typically reflects either records that pre-date the standardised period vocabulary or sites awaiting specialist dating review, rather than a genuine absence of chronological evidence.
Sample of recorded monuments
Show 25 sample monuments (of 3,290 total)
A representative sample of 25 recorded monuments drawn from the barony’s 3,290 total NMS entries. Sites within a recorded monument protection zone and rarer site types are prioritised so the list shows a meaningful cross-section rather than only the most common type. Each entry shows the official Sites and Monuments Record reference number and the description published by the National Monuments Service.
Stone sculpture
Cloghane Church/Teampall an Chlocháin:
Projecting from the internal face of the S wall, c. 1.75m above present ground level, is a carved stone head, locally regarded as that of the legendary Crom Dubh. Its primitive…
Cloghane Church/Teampall an Chlocháin:
Projecting from the internal face of the S wall, c. 1.75m above present ground level, is a carved stone head, locally regarded as that of the legendary Crom Dubh. Its primitive features are considered by some to be comparable to other Irish stone heads of probable pagan Celtic date (Rynne 1972, 90; Harbison 1973, 23). It was on Domhnach Chrom Dubh that a great pattern used to be held in Cloghane after the pilgrimage to Mount Brandon (KE034-047007-) (MacNeill 1962, 101-5), and Turas an Teampaill included visits to the old church and to the nearby St. Brendan's well (KE035-024—-) (An Seabhac 1939, 228-9).
In 2010 a graveyard survey carried out by Laurence Dunne recorded the following details about the stone head from Cloghane Church (KE035-025—-): 'A vertical crack extends full height circa 1.1m W of the south window. The crack finishes in a tapering empty socket hole that held the carved head of Crom Dubh until it was stolen for the second time in 1993. A carved stone head of Crom Dubh (KE035-025001) that had been inserted in the interior of the S elevation of the medieval church was stolen in 1993 (for the second time) and has not been retrieved. John O’Donovan, writing in August 1841, records: The old church is situated on level ground about one hundred paces to the west of the margin of Brandon Bay. At the distance of three feet six inches from this to the west is a projecting stone in the wall, formed into a represent…
Cistern
According to local information, this stone trough was moved to Anglont House, Killorglin (home of the Foley family for several generations) in the 19th century. The stone trough was also assigned an SMR number at this…
According to local information, this stone trough was moved to Anglont House, Killorglin (home of the Foley family for several generations) in the 19th century. The stone trough was also assigned an SMR number at this temporary location (KE057-055002-). The Foley family subsequently moved to another house in the south of Anglont townland, across from the Liebig factory, in the 1990s. The trough (H 0.35m; 1.27m x 0.95m), which is of conglomerate gravel, was at that location when inspected in 2000. Subsequently, according to local information, it was again moved to a garden in Summerhill, in Killorglin but its precise location is not known (pers. comm. A. McQueen, March 2005). The SMR record KE057-055002-, which was assigned to the trough's temporary location in Anglont House, Killorglin, has now been linked to its original record KE046-003001- at Ballyarkane Oughter/Beheenagh (Co. By).
Bastioned fort
National Monument No. 10018. Dún an Óir: On 28 August 1580, a fleet of 6 ships, carrying about 700 to 800 Spaniards, Italians and Irish led by Sebastiano di San Giuseppe, set sail from Santander on route for Dingle to…
National Monument No. 10018. Dún an Óir: On 28 August 1580, a fleet of 6 ships, carrying about 700 to 800 Spaniards, Italians and Irish led by Sebastiano di San Giuseppe, set sail from Santander on route for Dingle to support the Desmond Rebellion. The fleet dropped anchor in Smerwick Harbour in September 1580, and the force proceeded to fortify Dún an Óir (Castel del Oro), a small cliff promontory on the W side of the harbour, where Piers Rice had built a 'petty castel' about a year before. The fortifications were not completed before the arrival of the government forces and the commencement of the siege on 7 November. The main government force under Lord Grey was joined on land by a force under the Earl of Ormond, and Admiral Winter's fleet effectively blockaded the harbour. The siege lasted only 3 days, and, despite the fact that the fort had provisions enough for 6 months and arms and ammunition enough for 4000 men, the garrison of about 600 surrendered on 10 October and all but about 20, including women, were massacred on the same day. (O'Rahilly 1937, 1-15, 65-83; Jones 1954, 41-2; Ó Tuathaigh 1980)
Contemporary plans of the fort show a small oval promontory enclosed by a rampart, the approach to which was defended by a deep narrow causeway spanned by a drawbridge. The land immediately adjoining the promontory was also enclosed by a rampart of 2 bastions with an external fosse. Four gun emplacements were shown, their positions corresponding closely to the positi…
Prehistoric site – lithic scatter
The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To…
The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email nmarchive@chg.gov.ie.
Shrine
National Monument No. 519. Calluragh burial ground/An Cheallnúach: KE042-060001- is located about 1.25km E of the village of Ballyferriter on approximately the highest point in the townland with a good view to the N…
National Monument No. 519. Calluragh burial ground/An Cheallnúach: KE042-060001- is located about 1.25km E of the village of Ballyferriter on approximately the highest point in the townland with a good view to the N over Smerwick Harbour.
(3) (KE042-060003-) Slab Shrine: This consists of a small paved area, .9 x .85m, surrounded by 2 erect slabs and 2 small corner pillars with 2 courses of small stones completing the feature. The fill of dark soil over the paved floor indicated the presence of bone and supported the view that it was used as a form of shrine to hold re-interred human bone. A sherd of Bii ware was found in the upper fill. The shrine is located at the same level as the lintel graves and it probably marked the W limits and focus of the primary cemetery. Two post-holes, 30cm in depth and over 1m apart, were uncovered to the S of the shrine indicating some form of early wooden structure possibly associated with a primary wooden oratory as was found at Church Island (O'Kelly 1958).
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 874. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 9 August 2013
Well
Calluragh burial ground/An Raingiléis: This early Christian settlement (KE042-094001-), now a National Monument, lies on a fairly steep SE facing slope of Croaghmarhin and commands a magnificent view in all directions. …
Calluragh burial ground/An Raingiléis: This early Christian settlement (KE042-094001-), now a National Monument, lies on a fairly steep SE facing slope of Croaghmarhin and commands a magnificent view in all directions. Well (KE042-094008-): Curran (no. 15) recorded 'a sunken well reached by 14 steps' at or near the enclosure. This is probably the same feature described by O'Sullivan (1931, 525) as 'a stone stairs descending 20 steps or so' on the side of the road within the enclosure, and it is possible that it was a souterrain (KE042-094010-) and not a well.
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 827. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 8 August 2013
Historic town
Situated on the S side of the peninsula, Dingle stands at the head of a large, natural harbour, protected from the prevailing winds by a ridge of high land running W-E at the mouth of the bay. The town is built on…
Situated on the S side of the peninsula, Dingle stands at the head of a large, natural harbour, protected from the prevailing winds by a ridge of high land running W-E at the mouth of the bay. The town is built on elevated ground which slopes E to a small river and S to the harbour and it is bounded on the landward side by a crescent of ridges and rising mountains. Even today, Dingle is relatively isolated from major population centres and it is undoubtedly to its possession of a sheltered harbour that the town owes its prosperity in bygone days. (See KE043-224001- to KE043-224039- for individual monuments within the town).
The historic town of Dingle was described in the Urban Survey of Kerry as follows; ‘Dingle is a small coastal town located at the junction off a small valley with Dingle harbour on the south side of the mountainous Dingle peninsula. The placename is a corruption of 'An Daingean', the fort or stronghold, but the origin of this name is unclear. There is also a great deal of uncertainty over the fuller form, now generally rendered 'Daingean Ui Chuis', after references in AFM sub anno 1579 and 1580. O'Donovan (1983, 113) translated this as “the fastness of O'Cuis or O'Hussey". The Hussey family were connected with the town in the sixteenth century ( Hogan 1878, 192 fn. h, 282) but the earliest contemporary record of the extended name form occurs in 1322 as "Dengenyhonysh" which predates the known Hussey connection (PRO 1910, 160). The Ui Cuis family are…
Bridge
National Monument No. 612. Garfinny bridge/Seana-Droichead na Gairfeanaighe: This drystone, single-arched bridge, built of local stone, spans the Garfinny river a short distance below the modern bridge serving the old…
National Monument No. 612. Garfinny bridge/Seana-Droichead na Gairfeanaighe: This drystone, single-arched bridge, built of local stone, spans the Garfinny river a short distance below the modern bridge serving the old highway between Dingle and Lispole. Its age is uncertain but it is reputed to be medieval. It is soundly constructed and very simple in design. On either side of the river, foundation bases were constructed and built up with very large stones. Set back on these bases, other large stones were placed in such a way as to counteract the outward thrust of the arch above. The bridge is gently curving on plan and its simple arch is slightly pointed. The narrow, hump-backed carriageway, 1.65m wide, would have allowed vehicular access in only one direction at a time. There are parapets on either side and these were probably very low so as to make maximum use of the narrow carriageway. The tops of the central voussoirs of the arch form the actual pavement at the crown; elsewhere the surface is made up of large smooth stones with rounded edges, with areas of small rounded cobbles. This bridge is now a National Monument and repair and conservation works have recently been completed. The above description is based, for the most part, on information provided by G. Rourke (OPW).
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 1525. In certain instances the…
Earthwork
Situated in rough marshy land on the E bank of the Owenascaul river, this site was described by O'Connell (1939, 18) as 'two long mounds, some 60 feet long and 14 to 15 feet high, which almost came to a point'. Between…
Situated in rough marshy land on the E bank of the Owenascaul river, this site was described by O'Connell (1939, 18) as 'two long mounds, some 60 feet long and 14 to 15 feet high, which almost came to a point'. Between the mounds were several stones which he thought might mark graves and the ground in the apex of the enclosed area was paved. The site was known locally as a 'flax-hole'. In general, the description and location suggests that the site may have been a fulacht fiadh but the great height of the mounds, if the measurements are correct, would not be consistent with this interpretation.
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 1568. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 5 August 2013
Structure – peatland
This site extends over several acres on the N side of the high mountain saddle between Slievanea and Croaghskearda, in an area of rapidly-eroding peat banks, up to 2m deep, with the stony surface of the mountain-top…
This site extends over several acres on the N side of the high mountain saddle between Slievanea and Croaghskearda, in an area of rapidly-eroding peat banks, up to 2m deep, with the stony surface of the mountain-top visible in-between. It is here that the well-known 'Coumanare arrows' are found embedded in the peat or lying loose on the ground where the peat has eroded away. The 'arrows' are short pieces of wood, .15 to .17m long and up to .02m thick, sharpened at one or both ends. The removal of several hundreds of these objects from the site is recorded in the archaeological literature (Hitchcock 1850, 140-1; Tempest 1938, 127-8) and many more have probably been removed without record.
During a survey of the site by a group of students from the Department of Archaeology, UCC (Coumanare Expedition: Preliminary Report, 1970), some of the objects were recorded in situ where erosion had conveniently produced horizontal sections of the peat banks. They occurred mainly in groups, with a few occurring singly, and they did not appear to be disposed in any particular way; some stood vertically, others at various angles, and some lay horizontally. Only one was found protruding from a vertical section; the peat bank at this point was 1.02m deep and the 'arrow' occured .61m from the base. Tempest also found one in a vertical section, about .35m from the base of the peat bank. The UCC group also found many small slivers of wood which may have been produced in the course of sharpenin…
Cairn – burial cairn
This site is located on a steep S facing slope overlooking the Anascaul valley. It is comprised of a group of about 15 irregularly-shaped cairns of stone and, according to the landowner, many graves have been uncovered…
This site is located on a steep S facing slope overlooking the Anascaul valley. It is comprised of a group of about 15 irregularly-shaped cairns of stone and, according to the landowner, many graves have been uncovered in the same field (Finlay 1973, 27). The largest cairn is 4.5m long N-S, 3.2m wide and .7m high. Its N end is marked by a standing stone, .53m high. Only 1 other cairn incorporates a standing stone but there are 3 to 4 isolated upright stones, no more than .22m high. Both O'Connell (NMI) and the Co. Kerry Field Club (1945, 630) noted a circle of standing stones at the site but, unless the low uprights formed part of it, this is not now evident.
It is difficult to interpret this site from a surface inspection alone. It seems unlikely that all the cairns are simply the result of field clearance though some have obviously been added to for this purpose and some do overlie the series of cultivation ridges which traverse the field N-S. The presence of the standing stones and the discovery of graves suggest that this is a burial ground and it is possible that it was associated with the rock art located in the adjacent field to S (KE045-003—-).
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 216. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 4 August 2013
Water mill – horizontal-wheeled
See Cuppage (1986, 367, no. 984).
Cross-inscribed stone (present location)
This stone is currently in Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, Co. Chiarraí (pers. comm. Isabel Bennett). Its precise original provenance is not known but it was listed in the SMR (1990) under the townland…
This stone is currently in Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, Co. Chiarraí (pers. comm. Isabel Bennett). Its precise original provenance is not known but it was listed in the SMR (1990) under the townland of Kilvickadownig (KE052-291—-). It has been assigned a monument number (KE042-168—-) at its present location in Ballyferriter.
Cross-slab described by Cuppage (1986, 327, no. 862) as; 'A small triangular slab measuring a maximum of 0.44m. One face is inscribed with an equal-armed cross with expanded terminals; an oval depression occurs at the apex of the same face. The opposite side is inscribed with a more elaborate design, the main motif being an equal-armed cross with scrolled terminals. A small dot occurs in each of the angles between the arms and also at each side of the arms, in the circular spaces defined by the scrolled terminals. The design is enclosed within a triangular frame in each of the lower angles of which is an inscribed circle with a central dot and in the upper angle a small equal-armed cross with expanded terminals. The sides of the triangle do not quite meet at top, but turn upwards to form a penannular circle with a central dot. The earliest reference to this stone placed it within the cashel (580) that lies directly outside the NW corner of Páirc na Croise (859). Crawford (1912, 235) noted that it had been removed to Adare Manor but listed it under the same number as the missing slab from Páirc na Croise, as if it had been part…
Country house
This record is listed as 'House' in the RMP (1997). It is a late 18th/early 19th century country house (renovated).
Compiled by: Matt Kelleher
Date of upload: 06 February 2012
Boulder-burial
Situated on a generally W facing slope, commanding an extensive view over the Lispole valley and as far W as the Blasket Islands, this site is comprised of an alignment of 3 stones, 7.55m long, with an outlier standing…
Situated on a generally W facing slope, commanding an extensive view over the Lispole valley and as far W as the Blasket Islands, this site is comprised of an alignment of 3 stones, 7.55m long, with an outlier standing 60m to NE.
Immediately NW of this stone, a large boulder resting on 3 smaller ones was removed to make way for a track (local information). Based on the description and the context it is suggested that this feature was a boulder-dolmen; it is not unusual for such monuments to occur in close proximity to isolated or pairs of standing stones, although none have previously been recorded in association with a stone alignment (Ó Nualláin 1978a, 75-114).
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 50. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 3 August 2013
Town defences
Though Dingle appears to have been an important centre of trade by 1257 (McKenna 1979, 16), the first official reference to the walling of the town is not until over 300 years later. In 1569 a request 'to have allowance…
Though Dingle appears to have been an important centre of trade by 1257 (McKenna 1979, 16), the first official reference to the walling of the town is not until over 300 years later. In 1569 a request 'to have allowance of 1,000 pounds for the walling of the town of Dinglecoche in Kirreye which they are suitors of was sent to Elizabeth (Cal Car Mss 1569, 396). However it was not until 1585, 2 years after the end of the Desmond Rebellion, that a decree approving a murage grant to the town was issued (CPR Eliz. 1585, 105). The decree incorporated Dingle giving it 'such reasonable liberties as Drogheda hath' and the 'sum of 300 pounds in money towards the charge of walling their town with stone, three quarters of a mile compasse'. It seems likely however that the town had been previously fortified as the walls were recorded as only partially preserved in 1589. At that time the town was described as having had 'gates (as it seemeth) in times past at either end to open and shut as a town of war' (McKenna 1979, 22). Though much decayed by 1756 (Smith, 177), traces of very thick walling, bonded with a clay mortar, were still visible in 1853 near the N end of the town (Hitchcock 1854, 135), and the line of the W curtain was indicated on the 1st and 2nd editions of the OS map. There are no visible remains of any fortifications in the modern town but the linear street plan and burgage plots of its medieval predecessor are evident. Rectangular in plan, the walled town enclosed an are…
Graveslab
One of three medieval / post-medieval memorials in the graveyard to the E of the church (KE043-224005-). This record is for the Rice slab which is dated 1629.
The Rice graveslab dated 1629 recorded by Fitzgerald (1911,…
One of three medieval / post-medieval memorials in the graveyard to the E of the church (KE043-224005-). This record is for the Rice slab which is dated 1629.
The Rice graveslab dated 1629 recorded by Fitzgerald (1911, 344-6) as follows; 'The Rice Slab, 1629. This slab lies almost level with the ground in the eastern portion of the burial-ground. It is in a fractured condition, but has been cemented together, not quite line for line. The lettering is in raised Roman capitals ; the first ten lines are in English, and the remaining eight in Latin. The inscription (full .of errors), taken from Smith's ''History of the County Kerry," is given on p. 401, Vol. I of the Journal, where the date 1629 is given as 1622, and the first half of the Latin portion of the inscription is omitted altogether. At the top of the slab is a coat-of-arms—Rice impaling Trant.' The inscription is in verse, and runs thus'":
Stephen Rice, Esquier, lies here,
Late Knight of Parliament,
A happy lif for four score yeare,
Full virtueously he spent.
His loyall wif Ellin Trant,
Who died five yeares before,
Lies here also; Lord Jesus grant
Them lif for evermore.
The Latin portion of the inscription, according to Mr. J. R. Garstin, is in hexameters and pentameters; the notes he has kindly supplied on it are given further on. This portion of the inscription is evidently in Latin verse, consisting of two hexameters and two pentameters, though not written in four lines. The commencement is very…
Memorial stone
One of three medieval/post-medieval memorials in the graveyard to the E of the church (KE043-224005-). This record is for the Mullins plaque which is dated 1695.
17th century tomb described by Bradley (1987, 71) as…
One of three medieval/post-medieval memorials in the graveyard to the E of the church (KE043-224005-). This record is for the Mullins plaque which is dated 1695.
17th century tomb described by Bradley (1987, 71) as follows; 'Frederick Mullins – 1695
Tapering sandstone slab, set in an upright position into the east side of the Ventry mausoleum on the south side of the church. Relief inscription Roman capitals:
HERE LYETH THE : / BODY OF FREDER/ICK MVLLINS: SON/ AND OF/ FREDERICK: MVL/LINS OF BVRN/HAM: ESQVIR: W/HO DECEASED/ THE: 22: DAY: OF/ OCTOBER: AN/NO DOM 1695/ AND THE 31/ OF HIS AGE
Dims: L. 126 E. 81-61 D. 18
See attached plan and photograph taken from Dunne 2011 and screenshot of 3D model of memorial stone.
To see a 3D model of this 17th century memorial stone visit http://www.corcadhuibhne3d.ie/node/36
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage et al., 'Archaeological Survey of the Dingle Peninsula.' (Oidhreacht Chorca Duibhne, 1986)
Revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 8 April 2022
Tomb – unclassified
A decorated irregularly-shaped limestone slab, containing a design resembling lierne which is in the garden of a house in Main St. Dingle. It is probably part of a tomb surround.
See attached photograph taken from…
A decorated irregularly-shaped limestone slab, containing a design resembling lierne which is in the garden of a house in Main St. Dingle. It is probably part of a tomb surround.
See attached photograph taken from Bradley 1987, Fig. 29.
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage et al., 'Archaeological Survey of the Dingle Peninsula.' (Oidhreacht Chorca Duibhne, 1986)
Date of upload: 16 January 2012
Kiln
The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To…
The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email nmarchive@chg.gov.ie.
Font (present location)
This stone font was formerly in Ballywiheen Church (Teampall Bhaile Bhoithín). It consists of a roughly circular, flat-bottomed stone basin with a central perforation in its base. The basin is 0.25m deep and a maximum…
This stone font was formerly in Ballywiheen Church (Teampall Bhaile Bhoithín). It consists of a roughly circular, flat-bottomed stone basin with a central perforation in its base. The basin is 0.25m deep and a maximum of 0.25m in diameter internally. A second, roughly circular, flat-bottomed basin, now damaged, is 0.38m in diameter but only 0.8m deep internally. It, too, is perforated through the base and it seems likely that the first basin was intended to sit inside the second basin and that both probably rested on a pedestal.
The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne (1986), no. 981.
Updated by: Paul Walsh
Date of upload: 10 November 2014
Burnt mound
In a bog, covered by rough moorgrass and gorse, immediately to the E of a south-flowing river. In the course of removing vegetation cover in advance of tree planting, burnt stones and charcoal enriched soil were exposed…
In a bog, covered by rough moorgrass and gorse, immediately to the E of a south-flowing river. In the course of removing vegetation cover in advance of tree planting, burnt stones and charcoal enriched soil were exposed on a low mound (8m N-S; 6m E-W; H 0.1m).
Compiled by: Matt Kelleher
Date of upload: 13 March 2013
Sweathouse
Incorporated into a stone wall, which is the townland boundary between Kinard West and Tobarnamoodane. Indicated on the 25-inch OS map and situated close to settlement. Drystone with flat lintelled entrance to N…
Incorporated into a stone wall, which is the townland boundary between Kinard West and Tobarnamoodane. Indicated on the 25-inch OS map and situated close to settlement. Drystone with flat lintelled entrance to N (approx. H: 0.9m; W:0.6m). A D-shaped chamber with corbelled roof with flags and cobble floor. Stream c.30m to east.
Compiled by: Aidan Harte
Date of upload/revision: 14 March 2022
House – medieval
Possible medieval house on the northern side of Goat St described in the Urban Survey of Kerry (Bradley 1987, 65) as follows; 'On the north side of Goat Street opposite the house marked as 'Cross House' on O.S. map.…
Possible medieval house on the northern side of Goat St described in the Urban Survey of Kerry (Bradley 1987, 65) as follows; 'On the north side of Goat Street opposite the house marked as 'Cross House' on O.S. map. Only the lower courses of the walls (90cm thick) survive of the ground floor while the wall fronting onto the street has an additional batter, 50 cms. thick. It is now ruined'.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 19 April 2022
Hut site
These monuments are not mentioned in the 'Dingle Peninsula Archaeological Survey' (Cuppage 1986, 324) entry (no. 858). The source of the information on these huts is uncertain but may be from a reference by Henry Stokes…
These monuments are not mentioned in the 'Dingle Peninsula Archaeological Survey' (Cuppage 1986, 324) entry (no. 858). The source of the information on these huts is uncertain but may be from a reference by Henry Stokes (PRIA vol. 15, p. 23) who describes a 'very old church…and round crypts or cells built of stone'. Stokes continues: 'the sand will soon smother them all… I have not seen them for twenty years' (ibid.).
Listed buildings
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) is a state survey appraising buildings of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical interest. Each surveyed structure receives a rating from International (the highest, for buildings of European importance) through National, Regional, Local, and Record-Only.
The NIAH records 67 listed buildings in Corkaguiny (35th percentile across ROI baronies). The highest-graded structures include 3 of National significance. The Republic holds 937 National-graded buildings in total, so this barony accounts for around 0% of the national total. Construction dates concentrate most heavily in the Victorian (1830-1900) period. The most-recorded building type is house (34 examples, 51% of the listed stock).
Terrain and environment
Mean elevation across the barony is 171m — the 93rd percentile among 280 ROI baronies for elevation. This means it is in the top tenth of all baronies for elevation. This is a relatively elevated landscape by ROI standards. Elevation matters for heritage because higher-altitude baronies typically favour defensive monuments — ringforts and hilltop forts placed on prominent ground — while lowland baronies are more likely to carry the dense settlement and church networks of intensive agricultural landscapes. The barony reaches 948m at its highest point — a vertical span of more than 776m within its boundary, indicating significant topographic diversity. Mean slope is 11.3° — the 99th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for slope. This means it is in the top tenth of all baronies for slope. This is consistently steep terrain by ROI standards, the kind of landscape that tends to preserve upstanding archaeological features well. Slope is a key control on both land use and archaeological preservation: steep ground resists ploughing and tends to preserve earthworks intact, while gentle slopes favour intensive cultivation that damages or destroys surface archaeology over time. Localised maximum slopes reach 32°, typical of stream-cut valleys, escarpments, or coastal bluffs within the wider landscape. The Topographic Wetness Index averages 8.7, the 2nd percentile among 280 ROI baronies for wetness. This means it is in the bottom tenth of all baronies for wetness. This is well-drained ground by ROI standards — typical of upland or steeply-sloping country that sheds water rapidly. Drainage matters for heritage because poorly-drained ground preserves organic archaeology (wooden trackways, leather, textiles, and on rare occasions human remains) far better than free-draining soil; well-drained ground favours arable use but destroys organic material rapidly. The land cover is dominated by improved grassland (89%) and woodland (8%). In overall character, this is an upland landscape of steep, elevated terrain, with land use dominated by improved grassland.
Terrain measurements
Where this barony sits in the Republic of Ireland
Geology and preservation
Bedrock geology shapes the landscape long before any settlement begins — controlling soil drainage, agricultural potential, the survival of upstanding monuments, and the preservation of buried archaeology. The figures below come from the Geological Survey Ireland 1:100,000 bedrock map.
The bedrock underlying Corkaguiny is predominantly sandstone (63% of the barony by area), laid down during the Silurian-Devonian period (60% by area, around 444 to 359 million years ago). Sandstone weathers to free-draining, moderately fertile soils that supported Early Medieval ringfort agriculture and later manorial estates. The rock itself is a major source of building stone — visible in churches, tower houses, and farm buildings across the barony's historic landscape. The single largest mapped unit is the Ballymore Sandstone Formation (30% of the barony's bedrock). With 10 distinct rock types mapped, the barony sits in the top third of ROI baronies for geological diversity (89th percentile) — typically a sign of complex tectonic history or coastal mosaics of differing rock units.
Rock type composition
Largest mapped unit: Ballymore Sandstone Formation (30% of the barony)
Placename evidence
Logainm records 71 heritage-diagnostic placenames for Corkaguiny, drawn from townland and civil-parish names across the barony. The dominant stratum is pre-Christian and Early Medieval defensive — ráth-, lios-, dún-, and caiseal-prefixed names that mark Iron Age and early historic settlement. The leading diagnostic roots are cill- (31 — church), dún- (10 — hilltop fort or promontory fort), and cathair- (9 — stone fort). This is well above the ROI average of 30.7 heritage placenames per barony — around 2.3× the typical figure. The presence of multiple heritage strata side by side indicates layered occupation of the landscape across successive prehistoric and historic periods. Logainm records 404 placenames for Corkaguiny (predominantly townland names). Of these, 71 (18%) carry one of the diagnostic Gaelic roots tracked above; the remainder draw on more generic landscape vocabulary that does not encode a heritage period.
Pre-Christian / Early Medieval Defensive
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| dún- | 10 | hilltop or promontory fort |
| cathair- | 9 | stone fort |
| ráth- | 7 | earthen ringfort |
| lios- | 6 | ringfort or enclosure |
| caiseal- | 2 | stone ringfort |
Early Christian Ecclesiastical
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cill- | 31 | church (early) |
| teampall- | 1 | church (later medieval) |
| tobar- | 1 | holy well |
| cillín- | 1 | unconsecrated burial ground |
Burial, Ritual, and Norse-Contact
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| uaimh- | 1 | cave / souterrain |
| gall- | 1 | foreigner — Norse settlement marker |
Other baronies in Kerry
- Dunkerron North
- Clanmaurice
- Glanarought
- Iveragh
- Iraghticonnor
- Dunkerron South
- Magunihy
- Kinalea — Cork
- Kerrycurrihy — Cork
- Glenahiry — Tipperary
See all 280 baronies in the Republic of Ireland Heritage Tool.
Explore further
Grounding History: 10 Maps of Northern Ireland’s Past
If you’re interested in Irish heritage more widely, the companion report for Northern Ireland brings together the analysis of all 462 NI wards into one place through 10 high-quality maps — covering monument density, archaeological periods, placename heritage, terrain, wetland, and the historic landscape at first survey. Take a look.
About this profile
Click any section below to expand.
What is a barony?
A barony is a historic administrative unit in Ireland, broadly equivalent to an English hundred. The 280 baronies used here are from the OSi 2019 National Statutory Boundaries (generalised 20m), covering the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland. Baronies derive from the Norman period, were formalised in the 17th century, and have not been redrawn for statistical purposes. They vary enormously in area, from compact urban baronies in Dublin to vast upland baronies in Connacht, and should not be compared by raw site count without accounting for area differences.
What counts as a site?
This profile combines three distinct heritage registers, each with its own definition of what constitutes a recordable site:
- Archaeological sites (NMS). The National Monuments Service Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) catalogues every known archaeological monument or site of archaeological interest in the Republic, from prehistoric burial mounds and ringforts to medieval churches and post-medieval defensive works. Inclusion does not require legal protection — only that the site has been identified, surveyed, and assessed as having archaeological value. A separate subset of these sites lies within a recorded protection zone, which gives them statutory protection under the National Monuments Acts.
- Listed buildings (NIAH). The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records buildings of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical interest. Each surveyed structure is appraised on a five-tier scale: International, National, Regional, Local, and Record-Only. The NIAH appraisal is informational rather than strictly statutory, but it underpins local-authority Record of Protected Structures (RPS) listings.
- Heritage placenames (Logainm). Logainm is the authoritative database of Irish placenames maintained by the Placenames Branch. This profile applies a heritage-diagnostic classifier to the Irish-language form of each townland name, flagging roots that signal defensive sites (ráth-, lios-, dún-, caiseal-, cathair-), ecclesiastical foundations (cill-, teampall-, domhnach-, mainistir-), prehistoric burial-ritual features (tuaim-, carn-, leaba-), or Norse-contact settlement (gall-). Townlands without one of these diagnostic roots are not flagged here — they may still carry historical significance, but that significance is not encoded in the name itself.
Editorial principles
The narrative sections of this profile follow several explicit principles:
- Evidential. Every claim about this barony’s heritage character is anchored in the underlying register data. Where a site count, a placename count, or a percentile rank is cited, it is computed from the source datasets at export time, not estimated.
- Comparative. Counts and metrics are reported alongside their percentile rank against the other 279 ROI baronies. A barony with 50 ringforts in absolute terms could be unusually high or unusually low depending on its size and regional context; percentile ranking removes that ambiguity.
- Transparent on limits. Where a register has known coverage gaps, survey biases, or data-quality issues that affect this barony’s figures, the profile flags them rather than presenting the numbers as definitive.
- No interpretation beyond what the data supports. The narrative does not speculate about historical events, social dynamics, or cultural meaning beyond what the recorded heritage and placename evidence directly attests.
Data caveats and limits
- NMS Sites and Monuments Record is the product of survey campaigns conducted at different intensities across different counties and decades. Some baronies have been surveyed more thoroughly than others, and absolute counts should be read in that light. Sites destroyed by development before survey are typically not represented; sites in heavily forested or upland terrain are sometimes under-recorded.
- NIAH coverage is broadly complete for the Republic of Ireland but the survey was conducted on a rolling county-by-county basis, and the most recent appraisal date varies. Buildings demolished or substantially altered after their original survey may still appear in the register; conversely, recent buildings of merit may not yet have been appraised.
- Logainm classification applies a deliberately conservative pattern-matching approach to the Irish-language townland forms. The classifier prioritises true positives over recall: a townland may carry a heritage signal that the classifier doesn’t recognise, particularly where the diagnostic root has been heavily anglicised or where the townland name draws on a less common term. The 60,000+ townland records and ~9,800 classified placenames give a substantial signal at barony scale, but individual townland names should be checked against Logainm directly for definitive interpretation.
- Period attribution. The chronological distribution reflects only those NMS sites that carry a recognised period attribution in the source data. Sites listed as “Unknown” period are excluded from the dated subset.
- Boundary changes. Some baronies have undergone minor boundary adjustments since their 19th-century definition; the OSi 2019 generalised boundaries used here are the current statutory definition and may differ slightly from historical maps in border areas.
- Bedrock geology is mapped at 1:100,000 scale, which means local variation within a barony — small pockets of different rock type, mineral veins, alluvium overlying bedrock — is generalised. The dominant-system and rocktype figures are area-weighted, so a barony reading “70% Carboniferous limestone” may still contain small but archaeologically important pockets of older or younger rock. Around 3% of GSI polygons do not match the lexicon and contribute no rocktype or system attribution.
Data sources
- National Monuments Service — Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) https://data.gov.ie/dataset/national-monuments-service-archaeological-survey-of-ireland
- National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) https://data.gov.ie/dataset/national-inventory-of-architectural-heritage-niah-national-dataset
- Logainm — Placenames Database of Ireland https://www.logainm.ie/
- Ordnance Survey Ireland — National Statutory Barony Boundaries 2019 https://data-osi.opendata.arcgis.com/
- EURODEM — European Digital Elevation Model https://www.mapsforeurope.org/datasets/euro-dem
- ESA WorldCover https://esa-worldcover.org/en
- Geological Survey Ireland — 1:100,000 Bedrock Geology https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/data-and-maps/Pages/Bedrock.aspx
Explore more: Search any of the 280 ROI baronies, browse by historical province, or read the methodology and data sources for the full Republic of Ireland Heritage Tool.