THE RING fort in question is the southernmost in a series of three at Clashmealcon (also spelled Clashmelcon) near the coastline running to the Shannon estuary. It is clearly marked on Ordnance Survey maps.
The North Kerry Archaeological Survey by Caroline Toal in 1995 shows it to have been a fairly large double-ditch fort. It had “a well-defined inner bank, fosse and outer bank”. The bank rose to 3.6m externally and the fort had an internal diameter of 33m.
There had been widespread destruction until the 1994 monuments Acts. This is the second conviction in recent weeks.
In a statement after the judge’s ruling the National Museum of Ireland said it welcomed this “important court decision” and hoped it would act as a deterrent.
The statement also praised the role of “the majority of landowners and citizens” in preserving heritage.
“The National Museum of Ireland welcomes this important court decision and wishes to acknowledge the significant role of An Garda Síochána in the very thorough investigation and successful prosecution of this case,” the statement said.
Evidence of iron working had come to light at the Clashmealcon site in the form of metal working debris and iron slag picked up on the surface during official inspections in the aftermath of the extensive damage caused to the site. “However, the damage is likely to severely limit any further information that might be gained on the nature of metal working at the site – for example, the types of smelting pits or furnaces that may have been in use and the range of objects produced,” it said.
Ring forts are important archaeological monuments in the landscape and much knowledge can be gained from the archaeological objects frequently associated with these monuments, said Nessa O’Connor, assistant keeper, Irish antiquities division at the National Museum.
The National Museum of Ireland appreciated the role of the majority of landowners and citizens who act responsibly in the care of the archaeological heritage in their immediate surroundings, it said.