Dunbeg Prehistoric Fort

Dunbeg Prehistoric Fort

dunbeg

On any tours of Ireland there is a wealth of history to be seen. Dunbeg Fort is a prime example. A real hidden gem.

This small but impressive fort is located on a sheer cliff promontory which projects South into Dingle Bay at the base of Mount Eagle.

The defenses consist of four lines of banks , five fosses and an inner drystone rampant with a complex entrance flanked by two guard-chambers.

A souterrain extends under the causeway from this entrance and in the interior is a single clochaun (Beehive).

The banks are raised up to 1 metre above old ground level and are up to 3 metres wide. The fosses are from 0.98 metres to 1.55 metres deep below the old ground surface and are from 5.6 to 12 metres wide.

A central causeway provided access to the interior. Upright slabs lined the edges of this and few of these still survive towards the South end. The inner stone rampart, up to 6.35 metres thick and 3.08 metres high extends across the promontory for 29 metres. Much of the West half had fallen into the sea.

A drystone built souterrain extends for 16.5 metres from within the entrance passage to some two metres South of the inner face of bank two. A stone flagged pathway leads from the entrance in the rampart to a Beehive in the interior of the fort. It partly overlies  a stone-lined drain which runs along the outside of the Beehive to the cliff edge.

An inner ground tunnel which at one stage lead to the hill above the tunnel was said to be an escape route when invaded by enemies.

Well worth a visit on any tours of Ireland as is the Dingle Peninsula as a whole which is a must see attraction.