Crannoge — Lough Arrow

In the N side of Lough Arrow, c. 150m from the E shore and c. 250m SE of another crannog (SL034-215----), with a clear view of Carrowkeel to SW, Kesh Corann to W and Ballindoon Castle (SL034-220001-) to ESE. An oval high-cairn crannog (37.4m N-S; 21m E-W; H 2.3m above the lake-bed). It has a mid-cairn (8.4m N-S; 7.5m E-W) in the S half consisting of small stones (sandstone and limestone) set in dark crumbly soil. There is a square stone-lined depression (1.4m x 1.4m) in the SW quadrant of the mid-cairn. The mid-cairn is surrounded by a stony plateau, stretching out 6m to N, 3.5m to E, 4m to S and 3m to W. The E and W edges are distinct with a sharp drop to the lake-bed, the S edge slopes more gradually while that to N is less well defined. There is a circular depression (diam. 2m) in the plateau, immediately NE of the mid-cairn. A possible jetty or causeway leads out to the N towards a possible crannog (SL034-239----). Mentioned by Wood-Martin (1886, 245) as the largest crannog of a group, not far from Ballindoon Abbey (SL034-211001-); he also noted that soil had been brought to it in recent times. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008