Bawn, Glouria, Co. Kerry
Just southwest of a ringfort in Glouria, County Kerry, you'll find the remains of what appears to be a rectangular bawn, a type of fortified enclosure that was once common across Ireland.
Bawn, Glouria, Co. Kerry
Measuring approximately 27 metres by 18.6 metres and standing just 0.4 metres high today, this structure likely served as a defensive wall surrounding a house or tower during the plantation period, when such fortifications were essential for protection in rural Ireland.
The proximity of the bawn to the nearby ringfort creates an intriguing archaeological landscape that spans different periods of Irish history. Whilst ringforts typically date from the early medieval period, bawns were generally constructed much later, often during the 16th and 17th centuries. This particular example in Glouria demonstrates how successive generations used and modified the same landscapes for their defensive needs, layering centuries of history in a single location.
Archaeological surveys conducted in North Kerry have documented these remains as part of the region’s rich historical tapestry. Though the walls now stand at less than half a metre high, the clear rectangular outline still visible in the landscape helps us understand how these defensive structures once dominated the countryside, providing both practical protection and a symbol of authority for those who built them.