Ring of Kerry: Staigue Stone Fort

Many driving the Ring of Kerry tend to miss Staigue Stone Fort but, as the reviews online will attest, it’s well worth a visit. We loved this stop!

It’s thought that it was constructed during the late Iron Age (sometime between 300 and 400 AD) to act as a defensive structure, likely for a local king. It was partly restored and you can walk inside it. There are some glorious views of the surrounding countryside from Staigue, too!

This is one of the largest and finest stone forts in Ireland and was probably built in the early centuries AD before Christianity came to Ireland. It must have been the home of a very wealthy landowner or chieftain who had a great need for security.

A wall up to six metres high and four metres thick-built entirely without mortar-encloses an area thirty metres in diameter. Several near vertical masonry joints are visible in the wall, and these may indicate that the fort was built in stages rather than in one continuous operation. The fort was entered through a narrow, lintel-covered passage in the wall.

The fort was the home of the chieftain's family, guards and servants, and would have been full of houses, out-buildings, and possibly tents or other temporary structures. No buildings survive today, though two small chambers are contained within the wall. The top of the wall was reached by a series of steps which crisscross against the inside of the wall. An earthen bank and ditch around the fort gave further protection.
Staigue-from An Stéig (the portion of land)Read more