The Dingle Peninsula in the west of County Kerry Ireland is home to a wealth of archaeological and historical heritage and is of great interest to archaeologists, historians and folklorists or to anyone interested in their Gaelic or Celtic roots.

Even in the pre-historic period, the area was inhabited, and many monuments of this era, such as Ogham Stones, Promontory Forts, Megalithic Graves and Beehive Huts can be seen.

Evidence of one of the earliest human settlements (8000-4000BC) in the area was found at Ferriter’s Cove, near Ballyferriter. This was a temporary settlement, which was used on a seasonal basis. Remnants of a wide variety of food such as hazel nuts, red deer, pig, hare and birds have been found there as well as fishbones, shellfish and even a cow.

The Loch a’Duin valley near Cloghane contains a number of monuments from the Bronze Age. In this valley, there are over 90 stone structures dating from 2500 BC up to modern times. There are several kilometres of stone wall running through this area, much of it covered by peat bog which has built up over the past 3,000 years. From archaeological excavations and pollen studies, it has emerged that the Loch a’Duin Valley was used for agricultural purposes from 1600 BC to the beginning of the Iron Age. The Iron Age (500 BC – 500 AD) is often associated with the Celtic Period and the Dingle Peninsula has many monuments and relics of this era.

On the hillside above Camp village, about ten miles west of Tralee, one will find Cathair Con Ri (Caherconree), which is considered to be the finest examples of a promontory hill fort in Ireland. The fort is situated about 2050 feet up in the Sliabh Mish mountains. Three sides of the promontory on which it is built are protected by steep cliffs, while the fourth side is defended by a drystone wall which, although it is collapsed in places, is up to 3 metres high and 4.5 metres wide. The high wall marks the boundary to the barony of Corca Dhuibhne which encompasses most of the Dingle Peninsula. Nobody knows the true purpose of Caherconree. What was its use? Was it defensive, territorial, or the residence of a local tribe?

The Dingle Peninsula has a large collection of Ogham stones (almost 70). Ogham is the earliest form of Irish writing, and the stones may have been used as landmarks, or could also have been associated with ownership of the land. The stones carry the name of a male, and also refer to his father and grandfather. The name of Dovinia or Duibhne (as in Corca Dhuibhne, the tribe of Duibhne), appears on several of these stones. Duibhne was a Celtic Goddess of fertility and protection. One of the best examples of ogham stones is situated in Dun Chaoin (Dunquin), on the mainland just across the bay from the Blasket Islands, on the peak of Dun Mor (the big fortress).

The Dingle Peninsula’s remoteness on the edge of the known world is a possible explanation for such a concentration of Early Christian monastic settlements which were established there. Today there are over 30 monastic sites with a variety of remains such as holy wells, beehive huts, oratories, churches, cross slabs, shrines, burials and sun dials. Some of these have been excavated, explored and studied carefully.

There are numerous ring forts surviving from this period which are associated with human and animal habitation. Although a mythology has grown up around these ring forts – they are often referred to as ‘Fairy Forts’ and are endowed with magical properties – they were in fact practical structures used for habitation and defense. There are excellent examples of Ring Forts to be found at at Dun Clar at Annascaul and Cathair Deargain near Ballydavid.

No Viking remains survive on the peninsula; but the Vikings named the bay near Ballydavid “Smerwick” which translates as “the bay of butter”.

From the Norman period (1170 onwards) there are the remains of five tower houses on the peninsula, the most impressive ones being at Minard, Gallarus and Rathinnane.

History didn’t stop there and there is a wealth of items of interest to the modern historian to be found on the peninsula also.