Crannog

The National Monuments Service's description

Listed by O'Sullivan (2004, 61-2) as Ballynakill 1. The islet is locally known as ‘Gull Island’. It is located at the northern end of a broad, level shoal across the lake bed at the northwest end of Lough Derravaragh. Described by O'Sullivan (ibid.) as following; 'a low, circular cairn of sand, gravel and stones (diam. c. 8m E-W, 30cm above water levels). The cairn is situated on a narrow, linear causeway of gravel and stones, running for 10-12m to the south. The cairn itself is circular and flat-topped, with a level upper surface and gently sloping sides. It is constructed of medium-sized, flat, limestone slabs (60cm length, 30cm width, 10cm thickness), stones and sand. Across the southwest end, the stones are smaller (8-10cm in length). There are two vertical oak roundwood posts (with sapwood) at the eastern edge of the cairn. NMI topographical files (NMI IA/118/84) mention the presence of a possible wooden jetty at the northwest side of the cairn, and the presence of other wooden posts to the E and SE. A scatter of animal bone (probably of young cattle) lies on the surface at the southern edge of the cairn. The site is largely overgrown by reeds and small trees in the summer' (O'Sullivan et. al. 2007, 117).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 13 February 2017

References

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 Unpublished PhD thesis.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

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