Staigue stone fort

Staigue stone fort is a circular stone fortress in County Kerry with a diameter of 27 meters and walls reaching 5.5 meters in height. The walls measure 4 meters thick at their base and were constructed entirely from local sandstone blocks without mortar.

The fort was built between 300 and 400 AD as a defensive stronghold for local rulers during Ireland's late Iron Age. It served as an important site of control and protection for the community during this period.

The structure displays early Irish building methods using local stone fitted together without mortar. Visitors can observe how the stones are precisely stacked yet remain stable over time.

Access to the site is through a designated parking area located about 18 kilometers west of Sneem on the Iveragh Peninsula. The surroundings are open and the walk to the fort itself is fairly short.

Inside the walls are two underground chambers and several stairway systems that lead to elevated terraces. From these vantage points visitors can look out over Kenmare Bay and understand why this location held strategic value.