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'We cannot stress how dangerous it is': Ancient Kerry fort closed after storm damage

The site is precariously placed on a cliff edge.

shutterstock_72283729 Shutterstock / Lukasz Pajor Shutterstock / Lukasz Pajor / Lukasz Pajor

DUNBEG FORT ON the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry is closed until further notice due to damage sustained in the recent stormy weather.

Kerry was one of those counties in the firing line for Storm Eleanor earlier in the week, with the county included in wind and rainfall warnings since the new year began.

The fort is a popular tourist attraction, offering dramatic views of the surrounding areas.

A large portion of the fort has fallen into the sea due to the storm, RTÉ journalist Seán Mac an tSíthigh reported.

The site was also closed in December due to the storm damage and people are still being urged to stay away.

In a statement to TheJournal.ie, the Office for Public Works said: “The OPW cannot emphasise enough the absolute dangerous nature of Dunbeg Fort at this time and asks that all visitors, for their own safety, refrain from visiting the site until further notice.”

The OPW said that, alongside the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, it would meet at the site early next week to assess the damage and decide on what remedial works should be undertaken.

It is understood that significant damage has been done at the cliff edge, which has been subject to extensive erosion in recent decades. The fort is seen to be particularly vulnerable due to how it is perched on the sheer cliff edge.

Part of the site previously fell into the sea in 2014.

Dunbeg Fort itself dates back around 2,500 years, and houses a circular beehive hut with a square interior. There is also a visitor’s centre on site.

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27 Comments
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    Mute Ciarán McPhillips
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    Jan 4th 2018, 4:31 PM

    Sure can’t Healy-Rae get the fairies to fix it up for him?

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    Mute Rosemarie Martin
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    Jan 4th 2018, 4:49 PM

    Nature can be cruel, and Kerry got a right lashing. Having said that, this has to be restored and no better men than the Healy-Rae s to get things moving.

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    Mute Rodger 5
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    Jan 4th 2018, 4:37 PM

    Definitely safety first, the Black Fort on Inis Mhor is not OPW but some authority should look at making the entrance a lot safer, it is only a meter or so from the cliff edge.

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    Mute gerry fallon
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    Jan 4th 2018, 5:31 PM

    They should get that shower back who built it in the first place to repair it!
    Jeez,ye can’t good builders anymore.

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Jan 4th 2018, 7:36 PM

    @gerry fallon:

    Cairn Homes are probably checking their archives for any link!

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
    Favourite Fiona deFreyne
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    Jan 4th 2018, 5:39 PM

    There should never have been Planning Permission for a prehistoric building at such a dangerous location. Demolish it.

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Jan 4th 2018, 6:18 PM

    @Johnny Kelly: chuckling. Finish up,and wash your hands. Ecoli is bad.

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    Mute Michael Ahern
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    Jan 4th 2018, 6:47 PM

    Move the fort before it is lost

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Jan 4th 2018, 5:06 PM

    2500 years old is stretching it! Iron Age probably, so more like 1200 b.p. max.

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Jan 4th 2018, 5:07 PM

    It’s drainage system is interesting!

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
    Favourite Fiona deFreyne
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    Jan 4th 2018, 6:20 PM

    More and more storms, more intense and more destructive.

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