What is recorded here

Crannog in Roosky is a submerged artificial island in Portlough, County Donegal, where an octagonal stone chamber sat atop a wooden platform of oak and willow. The lough gave up the site during low water in 1832 and 1848, exposing iron hinges, a hatchet fragment, animal bones and a heavy pair of fetters. The chamber had no visible door, suggesting entry from above or through a fitted opening now lost. It may have begun as a crannog and later become a medieval stronghold, keeping a person restrained or storing what mattered while the water closed over the place.

Marked 'Castle in ruins' on the 2nd and 3rd editions of the OS 6-inch maps. An artificial island now submerged in Portlough, formerly O'Lappan's Lough, was revealed in 1832 and 1848. The island was formed on a foundation composed of a platform of beams of wood (oak and willow), notched and pinned together. On top of this was an octagonal building of stone and lime each side 10ft long and about 4ft high. No door was found but several iron hinges and hooks were. In addition a piece of an iron 'Hatchet', 'Rude fragments of pottery, bones of sheep and deer', and a pair of iron fetters 3ft 4in long and weighing 10lbs were found. It seems probable that the site was a crannog on which a later medieval building was erected. (UJA 1858, 168-9). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

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