Page 40 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

COUNTY WICKLOW'S 'HIDDEN' HERITAGE PARK

of local timber. The extended family lived in round huts within the
enclosure, and at night domestic animals were brought inside for
protection from raiders or wild animals. On our walk we made a
point of walking around the ringforts and hut sites in order to
assess their extent and gain an appreciation of how people lived
here many years ago.

From this spot one can point out the remains of two Fulacht
Fiadh (cooking places) as well as a long, wide grass roadway
between the gorse and ferns that was once used for flat racing
before Leopardstown and other courses existed. Also, an old
abandoned farmhouse where nearby two rotary quern stones
were discovered during excavation. They were given to me and
can now be seen inserted into the Millennium Seat beside Hill’s
Garage in Kilcoole.

Walking on for about 1.2km along the wall that divides the
Common from farmland, we came to a very large ringfort. It is on
farmland that has been cultivated for many years, and its outline
has now almost disappeared, but can be quite clearly seen from
aerial photography. There are the remains of two banks and
ditches. It must at least have been occupied by a local chieftain
36