Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

In a conifer plantation on damp ground c. 75m N of a small stream. One of three fulachtaí fia identified in 1999 during monitoring of a 10m wayleave to a reservoir in Cahereamore as part of the Lisdoonvarna Water Supply Scheme (Hanley 2000). A fulacht fia (designated Site A) which continued N beyond the limit of the excavation (Hanley 1999, 22; Hanley 2000, 16). The site comprised a U-shaped mound of heat-shattered stone (L 16m; Wth 7m; D 0.3-0.4m), with an underlying wood-lined trough (L 1.86m; Wth 0.6m; D 0.2-0.35m) and two smaller pits. The trough was lined with small angled stake-holes, interpreted by the excavator as part of a canopy or ‘tent-like’ structure. A series of stake-holes formed a fence line to the W of the trough. A general scatter of stake-holes was also identified. Finds included a thumbnail scraper and unworked flint. Two other fulachtaí fia (CL015-140001- and CL015-140003-) were identified c. 30m to the E, and c. 20m to the W respectively. 
 

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell

 

Date of upload: 29 October 2025

References

Hanley, K. 2000 Gortnaboul. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1999: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 16. Bray. Wordwell.

Hanley, K. 1999 A stratigraphic report on the partial excavation of three fulachta fiadhs, identified in the townland of Gortnaboul during the monitoring of the Lisdoonvarna Water Supply Scheme. Licence No. 99E0504. Unpublished archaeological excavation report on behalf of Sheila Lane and Associates.