A recent prolonged dry weather spell which put pressure on water supplies in the west of Ireland has proven to be good news for archaeologists. The low water table on the western lakes and rivers has yielded a number of significant finds in Connemara, according to archaeologist Michael Gibbons. Among them has been a new crannóg site which is part of a complex in the south Connemara area. It was located by Co Galway silversmith and archaeological student Ruairí O'Neill and a friend, John Foley, while exploring Lough Dhúleitir, north of Carna. Mr Gibbons, who lectures on Mr O'Neill's course, said that it was a 'fine example' of a small crannóg.
     "This is one of a wonderful group of six sites between Carna and Cill Chiaráin," Mr Gibbons said. The distribution extends from Doon Loughan to Lough na Tulaí near Indreabhán in south Connemara. Crannógs, derived from 'crann', the Irish word for tree, were artificial islands built as dwellings in prehistoric and medieval times on lakes and in estuaries. "Similar groups of stone crannógs are found in parts of Mayo, west Donegal and throughout the outer Hebrides in western Scotland and they range in date from the neolithic down to the 17th century," Mr Gibbons said. "They are part of the hidden heritage of the glacially scoured granite lands of south and west Connemara," he added.

Source: The Irish Times (29 June 2010)