Part 1:
Commentary: Prehistoric and early Christian sites: Ringforts and Stoneforts:
Factors that influenced the distribution of Ringforts/Stoneforts in
the Barony of Bunratty Lower
1. Height of the Land:
By examining distribution map fig. 7 (below) one will immediately notice
the major influence the height of the land has had on ringfort/stonefort
distribution. There is a virtual absence of sites from the Gallow’s
Hill – Woodcockhill area. In fact, in all, only 5 ringforts are
above the 200 ft. contour line – Ballycannan A, 210 ft., Mountievers
D, 210 ft..; Castlecrine A, 210 ft..; Glennagross A, 450 ft.. and Reaskcamoge
A, 710 ft.. In fact of this number three are within ten feet of the 200
ft. contour line. This means only 2 sites, 1.1% of the 165 ringforts,
are well over the 200 ft. height in a region covering over 20% of the
Barony’s area.
Two stoneforts are also above the 200 ft. contour line. However both
of these, within Mooghaun Hillfort, presumably chose such a site because
of the availability of stones for wall construction. None of the other
62 stoneforts in the Barony are near, or over, 200 ft. O.D.
This view of a marked preference for land below 200 ft. and preferably
in the 30 ft. – 150ft. zone, contrasts somewhat with Fahy’s
findings for the Skibbereen area of West Cork (1969, 152). Though there
are some differences in topography between both areas we still find that
only 8% of his sites are below the 100 ft. contour line while 72% (180)
were in the 100 ft. – 400 ft. O.D. area. He also recorded 20% of
the sites over 400 ft. O.D. while my figure, for ringforts and stoneforts,
was a very low 0.8%.

Distribution of ringforts and stoneforts
Click on image for larger version 2. Possibility of Flooding:
A second influence on site location was to be above the possible flood
water levels of the Rivers Shannon and Fergus. This accounts for the
absence of ringforts and stoneforts along the alluvium covered south
and north-western areas of the Barony (Fig. 8, below).
3. Fertile, Well-Drained, Soils:
The two factors dealt with to date, i.e. the height of the land and
the possibility of flooding, are reasons to explain why ringfort/stonefort
builders kept clear of certain areas. But what attracted them to certain
areas, like the Newmarket-on-Fergus lowlands where the vast majority
of the Bunratty Lower ringforts and stoneforts occur? (Fig. 8, below).
In answering this question I propose to deal firstly with the ringforts,
then the stoneforts.

Distribution of ringforts and stoneforts in relation to soil type
Click on image for larger version RINGFORTS
Why are there so many ringforts in the Newmarket-on-Fergus lowlands?
In answering this question one has again to state the purpose of a ringfort.
It was a protected farmstead. Therefore a large concentration of ringforts
in a given area must surely suggest land of good quality, as this would
have been necessary to support so many families, even at different times.
Such is the case with the Newmarket-on-Fergus lowlands. The grey brown
podzol soil here (Fig. 8, above) is of good quality, being fertile and
well drained (see Fahy, 1969, 151 & 153). This land is suitable for
pasture and tillage though the former was perhaps more dominant (Proudfoot,
1961, 106 & 112).
STONEFORTS
Apart from the height of the land and to be clear of areas liable to
be flooded, the principal factor in determining the distribution of stoneforts
was the availability of stone which was used in the construction of the
fort wall. With the exception of a few isolated examples (e.g. Clenagh
A and B, Ballycunneen C) all stoneforts in the Barony occur in two areas
where there is a deal of outcropping rock.
The two areas in question are:-
1. Ballymulcashel Townland (Kilfinaghta Civil Parish). This area originally
contained 19 stoneforts, 10 of which are still visible in the field
(1979).
2. Ballysallagh East – Caherscooby Band. In this large area, north
of Newmarket-on-Fergus, there was formerly a minimum of 33 stoneforts,
26 of which can still be traced (1979).
The presence, and extent, of the outcropping rock in these two areas – which
contain over 80% of the Barony’s stoneforts – suggests an
economy based on pasture rather than tillage.
Having dealt with various aspects of the ringforts and stoneforts of
the Barony of Bunratty Lower such site-types must now be discussed in
an Irish context, particularly relating to their date and possible origin.
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