What is recorded here

Indicated is a hidden crannog in Moynalty Lough, County Monaghan, where reeds still choke the west shore and deny entry to its small island. It is no longer a vivid lake home but a drowned cache, preserving bronze daggers, harp pegs, a Viking sword and amber beads that once belonged to someone who lived above the water. The lake has since shrunken, exposing more of the island and leaving behind a place where human brilliance keeps appearing in fragments rather than a whole life.

Situated in the oval Moynalty Lough (dims c. 950m NW-SE; c. 150-400m) that is now reduced to two smaller lakes. The crannog is close to the W shore of the large S part (dims c. 600m NW-SE; c. 400m NNE-SW) of the lake. The crannog is an overgrown island (diam. c. 25-30m; H c. 1m) surrounded by reeds, which make access impossible. Numerous objects from the Shirley collection, now in the National Museum of Ireland, are recorded as coming from a crannog at Moynalty Lough (Lucas 1968). They include three bronze daggers, a razor, a chape from a scabbard, two harp pegs, and various bronze pins. There were also four glass and four amber beads, a glass and a bronze bracelet, a Viking sword, two bronze buckles, numerous iron rods, and sherds of pottery. (Anon. 1862-3, 379) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of revision: 31 July 2017

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