Crannog

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in deep water in Carrafin Lough, c. 45m from the shoreline. Excavated by Davies in 1938. He found (Davies 1942, 28-9) that the core of the island was a natural gravel ridge running N-S which was considerably extended E and W with logs and stones. On the exposed W side of the island Davies found a well-preserved stone kerb and at E three visible layers of radial logs with cross-logs between, and on top of this structure a criss-cross log-floor with some stones. Finds from the crannóg included burnt animal bone, teeth, hazelnuts, decorated sherds of pottery, querns, a stone axe, a single-bladed iron axe with socket-hole, a hollowed pebble, a 'fairly recent' brass spur and two ring-headed pins. Local tradition maintains that this was the first stronghold of Owen Roe O'Neill, which he later abandoned for Clogh Oughter Castle (CV020-060----).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2008