Lazy Beds
The background behind lazy beds Lazy beds were the traditional way of growing potatoes in the west of Ireland (Roaringwater Journal, 2021). Lazy beds are often the physical remains of the Great Famine, which began in 1845, and which caused about seven years of emigration, disease, and starvation in Ireland. Another name for lazy beds […]
Megalithic tombs of Ireland
Sean O Nuallain (1979), provides some historical background to Ireland’s megalithic structures when he writes, “The earliest evidence of human activity in Ireland occurs mainly in the northeast of the country and has been assigned to the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age, with radiocarbon determinations indicating a date prior to 6,000 B.C. for some sites. […]
The Round Towers of Ireland
If you were asked ‘what is Ireland’s unique contribution to world architecture?’ What would your answer be? Indeed, the round tower is Ireland’s unique contribution to world architecture, with its 65 surviving structures existing in all but four of the 32 counties of Ireland (Cunningham, 2014). Round towers are still a characteristic feature of the […]
Anglican Church and School
“In the early 1800’s, people from the north of Ireland came to Mayo to work in the flax industry, which is used in the making of linen. Here, [Tobarruane to Cloondachon] a church was established for those workers in 1828 to accommodate the large portion of Anglicans that immigrated to the area. Though only a […]
Ballybourke Castle
According to the ‘Tochar Phadraig’ source (Michigan State University, 2009) — there were three castles built in alignment with one another—namely, MacPhilbins, Castlebourke and Ballybourke castles. The MacPhilbin Castle was built in Aille, in Co. Mayo. They were built in alignment so that they could signal to each other by virtue of lights. All three castles were […]
Teampleshaunaglasha Church and Graveyard
Just off the Tochar Phadraig route lies the remains of the church known as Teampleshaunaglasha, which translates into ‘The Church of John of the dykes or claishes’ (Michigan State University, 2009)—this is where claishes means ‘streams’ or ‘channels’ (Williamson, 2000). It also has an associated graveyard. These ruins were of the old church in Ballybourke […]
The Irish National Famine Monument
What was the Great Famine, and when did it occur? Ireland was devastated by the Great Famine which hit the country around the mid-1800’s. The famine itself came about when the potato crop—a staple food—did not adequately produce for 4 years in a row. Ruthless British landlords had no concern for their tenants—evicting the locals […]
Clew Bay—Quite Possibly Ireland’s Most Beautiful Coastline
British novelist and illustrator William Thackeray, wrote of Clew Bay after he visited in 1842: “The bay, with the Reek, which sweeps down to the sea, and a hundred islands in it, were dressed up in gold and purple, and crimson, with the whole cloudy west in a flame,” (Clew Bay Archaeological Trail, 2003, p […]
Deerpark Wall
Deerparks are large areas, usually enclosed by a wall, for the keeping of herds of deer. The townland in question here—’Deerpark’ near Westport in Co. Mayo is named after such a wall. These deerparks were introduced by the Normans and were a common feature of the constructed landscape from the 13th century on. The Normans […]
Bullaun Stone at Farburren
There is what is known as a Bullaun Stone outside of the western wall of the church, where now a tree is growing. What is a Bullaun Stone you might ask? It is a reasonably large stone, where a hollow has been carved out of it. These Bullaun Stones feature prominently in monastic sites—typically in […]