Leacanabuaile facts for kids

Leacanabuaile is an amazing ancient stone fort in County Kerry, Ireland. It is also called a "cashel." This special place is a National Monument, which means it is protected because of its important history. Leacanabuaile is located very close to another old fort called Cahergal. It is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) northwest of Cahirciveen.

History of Leacanabuaile

When Was This Fort Built?

Leacanabuaile was built a very long time ago. Experts believe it was made around the 9th century AD. That means it is over 1,100 years old! This fort was used as a safe farm where people lived. They could protect themselves and their animals inside its strong walls.

What Does the Name Mean?

The name "Leacanabuaile" comes from the Irish language. It means "hillside of the milking-place." This name gives us a clue about what the area might have been used for in the past. Perhaps people milked their cows or other animals here.

Discoveries at the Site

Archaeologists are like history detectives. They dug up the site in 1939 and 1940. They found many interesting objects that tell us about daily life back then. These included iron knives and pins. They also found bone combs, bronze items, and millstones. Millstones were used to grind grain into flour. These discoveries date back to the 9th or 10th century AD.

Exploring Leacanabuaile

What Does the Fort Look Like?

Leacanabuaile is a round stone fort. It is called a caiseal in Irish. The inside of the fort is about 30 meters (98 feet) across. Its outer walls are very strong. They are over 2 meters (6.6 feet) high and about 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) thick! The fort is naturally protected on three sides by steep, grassy slopes. The main entrance is on the east side.

How Was It Built?

The fort was built using a method called "drystone" construction. This means the stones were carefully stacked together without using any mortar or cement. Any small gaps were filled in with smaller rocks and rubble. This shows how skilled the ancient builders were!

What's Inside the Fort?

Inside the strong walls of Leacanabuaile, you can find several interesting structures. There are three stone "beehive houses." These are small, round buildings with domed roofs, shaped like old-fashioned beehives. They were likely used as homes or storage areas. There is also a "souterrain." A souterrain is an underground passage or chamber. These were often used for storage or as hiding places in times of danger.