Staigue Fort is one of the largest and finest ring forts you are likely to see on any guided tour in Ireland. There are others nearby like Leacanabuaile in Cahersiveen, Lohar stone fort and Caherdaniel stone fort. Staigue stands on a low hill and commands a fine great of Kenmare Bay to the south.
Dating of this site is proving difficult but it may have been built during the Celtic period and may possibly have functioned as some form of a tribal centre.
The fort is a massive circular rampart surrounded by an external bank. The wall is up to 18 foot high and 13 foot thick and surrounds a circular area of some 90 foot. Staigue Fort displays great skill and craftsmanship in the art of stone building. The technique of constructing “Dry” walls is so well demonstrated here has a long tradition in Ireland. The survival of so many of these early buildings throughout the Irish landscape is partly due to the mastering of the craft of interlocking stones to achieve total stability. One of the most interesting things about Staigue is that there are ten flights of steps that are built in an X shape along the circular internal wall giving access to the top of the rampart.
