placenamesCastlecove
An Siopa Dubh
Castlecove’s coastal district supported generations of timber boat builders, while Staigue Fort preserves a striking example of dry-stone construction inland.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- An Siopa Dubh · Irish · main form · validated name
- Castlecove · English · main form
Place & story
Boats for fishing and carrying sand
Kerry Folklore's oral-history project records timber boat building across the district around Castlecove and Caherdaniel. Seine boats and their followers served the fishing grounds, while other boats carried sand from White Strand and Reen Strand to farms around Kenmare Bay. Builders used elm and oak for frames and deal for planking. Much of their design knowledge passed between generations through practice and memory. [2]
The Gleesons of Skehanagh
In his recorded account, Danny Gleeson traces his family's boat-building work at Skehanagh to the 1850s, beginning with Tom Gleeson. Later generations supplied racing boats as well as working craft. In 1988 Danny and his sons James and Dan built a thirty-two-foot Viking-style longship from native oak, using Scandinavian plans. This commission shows the craft adapting to new purposes beyond the fishing industry. [3]
Staigue’s stone walls and stairways
Staigue Fort stands inland from Castlecove in a mountain valley. Its massive circular wall was constructed without mortar and is entered through a south-facing passage. Ten flights of steps, arranged in crossing patterns on two levels, give access to the upper wall. Two small chambers are incorporated within the masonry. The fort is a national monument in state guardianship, preserving an unusually substantial example of dry-stone building. [4]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Castlecove. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- The Heritage of Timber Boat Building in Castlecove and Caherdaniel · Kerry Folklore,Béaloideas Chiarraí
- The Boat-builders:recorded account by Danny Gleeson · Kerry Folklore,Béaloideas Chiarraí
- Staigue Stone Fort · Office of Public Works,Heritage Ireland
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.