Tuesday, May 31st, 2011: Ring of Kerry Torc waterfall and Staigue Ring Fort

Long but good day. 8 ‘stops’ at least. First stop: Torc Waterfall is at the base of Torc Mountain just outside of Killarney. We took a short walk, about 1 mile up and over the fall.  Torc Waterfall is part of the Ring of Kerry which we continued to follow throughout the day.

2nd stop: Staigue Fort (ring fort) used to keep watch on the surrounding area. Staigue Fort is one of the largest and finest ring forts in Ireland. It stands on a low hill in an amphiteatre of rugged hills open to the sea on the south.

The wall is up to 18ft high and 13ft thick, surrounding a circular area of 90ft in diameter. The fort is surrounded by a large bank and ditch. Staigue Fort shows great skill in building. No mortar was used. The dating of this site is difficult but it may have been built in the centuries preceding St Patrick, during the Celtic period. Or others suggests that the earliest possible date for construction is probably around the first century BC.

Local lore has it that the inhabitants were small in stature and they came here in search of ore. There is evidence that copper was excavated in the surrounding countryside.