Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ford
Friarsland,river Shannon, County Galway, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Friarsland,river Shannon
- County
- Galway
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- SMR number
- GA109-061----
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
An ancient fording point crossed the River Shannon from the medieval borough (GA108-234----/GA109-060----) of Meelick in Co. Galway, to Cloghaun in Co. Offaly. It must have been c. 400m across, if one includes the marshy fringes and islands along this stretch of the river. It was evidently of prehistoric ancestry from the polished stone axeheads and bronze swords recovered from it (Bradley and Dunne 1992, 154-5). Described c. 1690 as 'one of the passes of the Shannon ... convenient enough for travellers with a guide, but not for an army, the ford being narrow with several windings and dangerous on both sides' (Woodford Heritage Group 1986, 139). No visible surface trace survives and even its exact position is unclear.
Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG
Date of upload: 8 June 2017
References
Woodford Heritage Group. 1986 A forgotten campaign: aspects of the heritage of south-east Galway. Woodford Heritage Group, Woodford.