Caherdorgan North Cashel & The Chancellor’s House

The Chancellor's House, known locally in Irish as Fothrach an tSainsiléara (The Chancellor’s Ruin), is the remains of a ruined drystone rectangular stone medieval building which was probably built in the early medieval period to serve as home to the chancellor of the medieval Diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe. The building is located on a slope about 7km northwest of Dingle town overlooking Smerwick Harbour. The remains of the Chancellor’s House are rectangular in form measuring almost 18m in length and contain the remains of a stone built bread oven and a fireplace. The western room within the building is the largest and probably served as the living quarters, whilst the eastern area appears to have served as the kitchen.

The Chancellor’s House was built 300 metres north of Caherdorgan Cashel, a drystone-built early medieval monastic enclosure, which comprised of 5 drystone built corbelled ‘beehive huts’ and a souterrain which was used as a place to store and preserve food; but which could also double as a hidden refuge in times of crisis – (similar to a modern cellar).

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014