Ballywiheen

Bhaile Uí Bhaoithín [1] · Raingiléis
Stone church
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Established	6th century AD
Diocese	Ardfert and Aghadoe
Architecture
Status	ruined
Style	Celtic
Site
Location	Ballywiheen, Ballyferriter, County Kerry
Coordinates	52°09′32″N 10°24′25″W / 52.158792°N 10.40702°W / 52.158792; -10.40702
Visible remains	church
Public access	yes
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Ballywiheen Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site; Cathair na gCat Cashel & Ogham Stone [2]
Reference no.	221.2425

Ballywiheen is a medieval Christian site and National Monument located on the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Location

Ballywiheen is located 800 m (half a mile) south of Ballyferriter, on the south side of Croaghmarhin mountain.

History

There was an early Christian settlement here, also called Raingiléis. ^{[7] [8]}

The Ogham stone was erected as a grave marker c. AD 500–550. In the 1880s it was broken open in search of gold. ^[9]

Excavations in 1998 turned up a stone lamp and flint scraper. ^[10]

Description

Ballywiheen is surrounded by an enclosure 68 m (223 ft) in diameter. In the eastern part are the remains of an early drystone oratory. To the west are two mounds — these mark the location of two leachtaí (stone altars).

There is also a cross slab (decorated with Maltese cross), ^[11] grave mounds (suggestive of a calluragh burial ground).

There is also a stone cross 123 cm (four feet) in height. ^[12]

Cathair na gCat

The name Cathair na gCat means "the cat's stone fort" (the "cat" referred to is possibly the "tree cat", i.e. the pine marten.) This is a stone fort (cashel) located immediately south of Ballywiheen Christian site. It contains two stone huts and a possible souterrain.

The Ogham stone (dated to the early 6th century AD) ^[13] reads TOGITTACC MAQI SAGARET[TOS], "of Toicthech son of Sáraid." ^{[14] [15] [16]}

References