Leacanabuaile Explained

Leacanabuaile
Native Name:	Leaca na Buaile
Native Language:	ga
Coordinates:	51.9583°N -10.2619°W
Location:	Kimego West, Caherciveen, County Kerry, Ireland
Built:	c. 9th century AD
Elevation:	24m (79feet)
Architecture:	Gaelic Ireland
Owner:	State^[1]
Type:	stone ringfort
Designation1:	National Monument of Ireland
Designation1 Offname:	Leacanabuaile Cashel^[2]
Designation1 Number:	414

Leacanabuaile is a stone ringfort (cashel) and National Monument in County Kerry, Ireland.^[3] Leacanabuaile is immediately northwest of Cahergal, 3km (02miles) 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 30m (100feet) with outer walls over 2m (07feet) high and 3.3m (10.8feet) 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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Archived copy . 23 September 2017 . 16 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116165544/http://cdp.kerrycoco.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1_national_monuments.pdf . dead .
2. Web site: National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship . 4 March 2009 . National Monuments Service . Ireland . 12 May 2021 .
3. • Web site: The Excavation of Leacanabuaile Stone Fort Near Caherciveen, Co. Kerry. Seán P.. Ó'Ríordáin. 23 September 2017. Google Books.
   • Book: Rick Steves Best of Ireland. Rick. Steves. Pat. O'Connor. 5 July 2016. Avalon Publishing. 9781631213205. Google Books.
   • Web site: Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society. 23 September 2017. The Society. Google Books.
4. Web site: Leacanabuaile Stone Fort Walking Route, Kerry - Activeme.ie. Activeme.ie. www.activeme.ie. 6 November 2012.
5. Web site: Leacanabuaile Fort (Cahersiveen, Ireland): Award Winning - Top Tips Before You Go (with Photos) - TripAdvisor. www.tripadvisor.ie.
6. • Book: Ireland: An Oxford Archaeological Guide to Sites from Earliest Times to AD 1600. Andrew. Halpin. Conor. Newman. 23 September 2017. Oxford University Press. 9780192806710. Google Books.
7. Web site: Leacanabuaile Fort - Attractions - Museums and Attractions - All Ireland - Republic Of Ireland - Kerry - Cahersiveen - Discover Ireland. Website design and development by. Tibus. www.discoverireland.ie.
8. Web site: Cahergal and Leacanabuaile Forts, Ballycarbery Castle - Voices from the Dawn. www.voicesfromthedawn.com. 15 October 2010.
9. Book: Henderson, Jon. The Atlantic Iron Age: Settlement and Identity in the First Millennium BC. 1 December 2007. Routledge. 9781134076123. Google Books.
10. Web site: Cahergal and Leacanabuaile - Old Irish Stone Forts or Ring Forts.
11. Web site: Leacanabuaile Stone Fort - ticket prices and opening hours information - map. Cockroach. directionireland.com.
12. Web site: Saints and Stones: Leacanabuaile. www.saintsandstones.net.