Leacanabuaile Stone Fort

The Leacanabuaile stone fort is a National Monument in County Kerry located a short distance from the pretty village of Cahirciveen.
It is located at short walking distance from the older Cahergal Stone fort and the easiest way to visit both forts is to park your vehicle in the designated car park that is located at short walking distance from both forts.  Entrance to both ring forts is free.
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The Leacanabuaile fort (or cashel) was built around the 9th century as a defended farmstead. It is perched on a rocky outcrop with commanding views of the stunning surrounding area providing the people who lived there with the perfect protection against potential invaders.

The fort has been extensively excavated and restored showcasing in its interior a rather complete example of how such cashel might have looked during the ninth or tenth Century when it was occupied.
Within the 2.5 meter thick walls are the remains of four houses. The oldest of these houses is a circular hut that is located against the west wall of the fort. During extensive excavations, Iron knives, pins, bone combs and mill-stones were found. 

Within the protective walls of the fort is also an entrance to a souterrain, a roughly 1 meter tall underground passage following a zigzag path for about 11 meters into a chamber inside the fort's walls. This may have been an escape route to the outside for the occupants when the need existed to make a quick escape.
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