Settlement platform

The National Monuments Service's description

Listed by O'Sullivan (2004, 65-6) as Derrya 1. Situated on NW shoreline of Lough Derravaragh with impressive ringfort (WM007-003---) 220m to the NE, and a crannóg (WM007-004----) 300m to W. The site has excellent views across the lake, while the E shore is also clearly visible down as far as Knockeyon. Described by O'Sullivan (ibid.) as following; 'a small, circular, rock platform (dims. 14m N-S x 13m E-W; H 0.5m ) of stone and earth. It is composed of small stones, with a few medium-sized stones lying around on the surface, particularly at NNE end. It has a level surface (dims. 8m N-S x 5.5m E-W) on top of the platform. It slopes gradually down to the E, S and W. It is slightly more steep to the NE (towards the shore). A lower, level platform (dims. 8m NE-SW x 7m NW-SE) is attached to the main platform at its ESE end. The platform is separated from the shore by a narrow, waterlogged ditch, c. 25cm in depth. A neatly built, zig-zag stone causeway joins the platform with the shore, but it does not run out directly to it. It firstly leads out from the shore in an E-W direction, before turning slightly in an ENE-WSW towards the platform. For the latter part of its length, the causeway runs across the secondary platform described above. The causeway measures 9m in length, 70-80cm in width, by 15 cm in height. There is no duck-hide on the crannog, suggesting that the causeway was not constructed in recent times. A wooden dugout boat (Derrya NMI 1968:225) was found on the lakeshore, 500m to the south-southwest. This is potentially a small early medieval lakeshore occupation platform constructed to provide good views of the early medieval royal settlement complex at Coolure Demesne to the west. Its proximity to the Coolure Demesne ringfort (WM007-003----) and crannóg (WM007-004---) might suggest it is an early medieval low-status site, occupied seasonally at times of public gatherings on the lakeshore, although it may be an earlier, prehistoric lake platform'. (O'Sullivan et. al. 2007, 120-1)

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 13 February 2017

References

O'Sullivan, A., Sands, R. and Kelly, E.P. 2007 Coolure Demesne crannog, Lough Derravarragh, Co. Westmeath: a crannog and its landscapes. Bray. Wordwell.

O'Sullivan, A. 2004 The social and ideological roles of crannogs in early medieval Ireland. Unpublished PhD thesis. Department of History, NUI Maynooth.