Measuring roughly 40 metres across, this ancient structure occupies a low ridge of rock close to the sea, its weathered stones telling a story of centuries past. Though time has taken its toll and much of the enclosing wall has collapsed, the outline of this ringfort remains clearly visible against the coastal landscape.

Cashels like this one at Kildoney Glebe were typically built between the 5th and 12th centuries, serving as fortified farmsteads for prosperous families. Unlike their earthen counterparts, these stone ringforts were constructed in areas where rock was readily available, particularly in the rocky landscapes of western Ireland. The builders would have carefully selected and stacked stones without mortar, creating walls that might have stood several metres high in their prime, possibly topped with wooden palisades for extra defence.

The strategic placement on a ridge near the estuary wasn’t accidental; it offered both defensive advantages and practical benefits. The elevated position provided clear views of approaching visitors or threats, whilst proximity to the sea meant access to marine resources and trade routes. Today, visitors can still trace the subcircular footprint of the fort and imagine the bustling farmstead it once protected, complete with dwelling houses, storage buildings, and perhaps small craft workshops, all contained within those now tumbled walls.