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Pasáiste fé thalamh is ea uaimh thalún nó souterrain mar a thugtar air sa Bhéarla, ach is ón bhFraincis a thagann na focala sous (= fé) agus terrain (= talamh). Is minic uaimh a bheith fé bhun liosanna nó cathracha chomh maith leis na clocháin, ná bíonn aon ráth mórthimpeall orthu. Struchtúr bunúsach go leor a bhíonn iontu i gCorca Dhuibhne agus gan ach pasáiste agus seomra iontu agus iad tógtha le clocha. Dídean nó cosaint nó chun go gcuirfí nithe i dtaisce iontu an úsáid is mó a bhaintí astu. Maireann siad ón dtréimhse idir an 8ú – 12ú haois A.D.
Souterrains (from the French words sous and terrain, meaning ‘under the ground’) are man-made underground passages often found in association with ringforts and cashels, particularly here in Corca Dhuibhne, but are also known at unenclosed sites (e.g. Cathair Sayers {or Cathair an dá Dhoras}, Gleann Fán, a conjoined clochán site containing three huts) and at ecclesiastical sites. About 250 souterrains are known from Corca Dhuibhne, but they are not found in such density in the majority of the island. These monuments, which are generally of simple dry-stone construction with lintelled passage roofs (although earth- and rock-cut examples are also known), may have been built for refuge but were also more likely used for storage. Generally souterrains only have one way in/out, which means that they would not have been the best places for concealing people, as one could be trapped within them. They generally consist of a concealed entrance (although this is usually visible today), and a short passage leading into a larger chamber, often of ‘beehive’ (i.e. corbelled) construction, similar to the clocháin or hut sites which are common particularly in the western part of Corca Dhuibhne. There are many variations to be found on this basic lay-out, and sometimes these monuments can be quite complicated in their design.
Though difficult to date, it is thought that the majority date from the 8th to the 12th century AD. Unfortunately there are not now many open examples to visit, due to health and safety reasons, but (now-blocked) souterrains can be found at cashels in Cathair Deargáin and Baile na bhFionnúrach (Cathair na bhFionnúrach), at An Dún Beag promontory fort, Fán, and an underground chamber, Poll na Sagart, which may be part of a souterrain, can be found at Teampall Mhanacháin in An Baile Riabhach.
Further information about these, and other archaeological sites on the peninsula, can be found in Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, www.westkerrymuseum.com. The museum is open 10.00 am – 5.00 pm, 7 days a week. Tel: 066-9156333 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There is also a café with fresh baking daily and a bookshop, and free Wi-Fi for customers!
