Leacanabuaile, Stone ringfort in County Kerry, Ireland
Leacanabuaile is a circular stone fortification measuring about 30 meters across with exterior walls roughly 2 meters tall and 3.3 meters thick. Inside the fort walls stand three stone beehive houses and an underground passage, reached through an entrance on the eastern side.
The fortification was built in the 9th century to serve as a defended farmstead for a family. Excavations in 1939 uncovered iron tools, bone combs, bronze items, and millstones, revealing what people used in daily life and work.
The name comes from Irish and means 'hillside of the milking-place', showing how this was a farming settlement where people raised livestock. Visitors can see how the stone structures were built to protect daily work and animals from outsiders.
The site sits on a steep hillside with grassy slopes that provide natural protection and good views of the surrounding area. Visitors should expect uneven ground and potentially slippery conditions, especially after rain.
The structure uses drystone masonry, where stone blocks are stacked without mortar and filled with rubble, a technique that provided flexibility and durability. This building method allowed the walls to withstand shifting ground and wear over many centuries.
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