Goose Island — Lough Ennell

Inspected as part of the Crannog Archaeological Project it was described as ‘oval in shape, and approximately 50 x 35 metres. The stone cairn that is its base, is constructed in the same way s Cró Inis [WM025-150----], with large boulders at the bottom, and smaller stones at the waterline. Goose also has timber structures on three sides, and the remains of a double palisade some ten metres off shore. There are to narrow gaps which correspond to two sides of a stone jetty, some eight metres in diameter. As at Cró Inis there are no timbers on the aspect facing onshore, and the water is shallow as well. All in all, Goose Island is similar in plan and construction to Cró Inis.’ (Farrell and Brady n.d., 7). Listed as Goose Island and described by O'Sullivan (2004, 93-4) as following 'Located at east side of Lough Ennell. The site is located 260m from shoreline, in 1.2m water depth in a broad bay (Rochfort Bay) and is overlooked by steeply rising ground to the east. This crannóg is a large, oval-shaped, high-cairn (approx. dims. 25m N-S; 35m E-W; H 3.5m) islet. It is built of large stones (20-25cm length) at the base and smaller stones piled up on the upper surface. Some of these stones are quite large angular blocks, that may have been quarried. The crannóg has a level upper surface with a mid-cairn 10-15m diameter on the east side. The crannóg slopes gradually down from that platform towards the west, north-west and southwest. It is quite steep sloped on the east side, facing the dryland shoreline. Horizontal and vertical timbers are visible at the water line on the west sides of the island. Underwater surveys have previously revealed an outer horse-shoe shaped palisade of 149 posts on the northwest, west and southwest sides of the island. This includes a double post row on the northwest side of the island, 10m out from the edge. There are two narrow gaps in the palisade opposite a stone jetty, 8m in diameter. The palisade then comprises a complex triple palisade extending around the west and southwest sides of the island, c.20m out from the edge o f the island. It then turns back towards the island, to form a double palisade c. 10m out from the south side. This has produced a ninth-century radiocarbon date. There are also small submerged stone platforms in the water, 3 to the north and 3 to the south'. Compiled by: Paul Walsh Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 9 march 2017