This rugged outcrop, measuring roughly 700 metres north to south and varying between 50 to 220 metres east to west, contains one of Ireland’s most intriguing collections of ancient defensive structures and settlement remains. The area’s natural defences are formidable; sheer cliffs plunge into the sea on most sides, whilst narrow isthmuses create natural bottlenecks that ancient inhabitants cleverly incorporated into their defensive schemes.

The peninsula’s archaeological features tell a story of repeated fortification and habitation spanning centuries. At the southern entrance, a 40-metre-wide isthmus forms a natural ditch, reinforced by the grass-covered remains of a stone wall that once stood guard here. Further into the peninsula, visitors encounter an impressive series of defensive earthworks, including a 105-metre-long bank and fosse system, complete with what appears to be an original entrance gap. The most spectacular defensive feature is found at the northern isthmus, where four massive earthen banks with three intervening ditches create what local maps call ‘Balor’s Fort’, named after the legendary one-eyed giant of Irish mythology. These tiered defences rise with the natural slope, and evidence of stone revetment suggests sophisticated construction techniques.

Beyond these fortifications, the gently sloping southern face of the peninsula reveals the remains of at least twenty hut circles, likely dwelling places for the community that once called this windswept outpost home. These structures, typically circular or oval and measuring up to 10 metres across, were built directly on the rocky surface before the development of the island’s turf layer. Scattered amongst them are various enclosures, possible storage structures, and even a rock-cut well that would have provided precious fresh water. The eastern extremity of the peninsula, accessible only by crossing another rock-cut fosse, contains further structural remains including a collapsed stone enclosure perched precariously on the cliff edge. Though no local traditions survive to explain these structures’ original purpose, their positioning and construction suggest a community that valued both defence and the dramatic Atlantic views that surround this extraordinary archaeological site.