What is recorded here

Crannog in Ballinlough (leitrim By.) was a small wedge-shaped island in the SW end of Ballin Lough, visible on the 1838 and 1920 maps but lost when the lake drained. Wood-Martin dug in its centre and found bog, clay, bones, then wood ashes full of charred bones, while reeds and scrub swallowed the island from view. Two other crannogs lay nearby to the east, suggesting a small cluster of occupied or used islands rather than a lone curiosity. The place may have been a seasonal refuge, a boundary marker, or a forgotten household, but its shape and remains point to repeated human presence at the edge of the lough.

Formerly located in the SW end of Ballin Lough; the lake has subsequently been drained. Shown on the 1838 and 1920 editions of the OS 6-inch map as a small roughly wedge-shaped island (c. 30m NE-SW; c. 7-15m NW-SE). Labelled 'West Island' by Wood-Martin (1886, 222) and described by him as being 'connected' to the lakeshore during 'the dry season'. An 'excavation' conducted by Wood-Martin in the centre of the island produced 'Bog and clay, with a few bones' for the first 0.6m, beneath which 'wood ashes, full of charred bones' were encountered. On inspection the island was not discernible as it lay in a marshy area which was heavily overgrown with reeds and scrub. Two other crannogs (GA125-011---- and GA125-012----) also formerly lay within the lake c. 80m to the ENE and c. 260m to the E respectively. Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG Date of upload: 6 January 2020

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