What is recorded here

Ten neat stone mounds and a possible paved road emerged in 1939 when a new sluice lowered the water at Bellantra Bridge. They belonged to Derrintober’s southern edge, facing O’Reilly’s Island across Lough Allen. The lake had hidden a small inhabited world, perhaps with crannogs and a way of travelling between them. When the water rose again, the place returned to speculation, remembered only through what the river briefly gave back.

Around1939 when an ESB sluice was inserted into the Shannon at the point where it leaves Lough Allen at Bellantra Bridge, about 10 neat circular or oval mounds of stone (dims c. 4-6m; H c. 0.5m) came to light. There was also what may have been a stone-paved roadway (LE023-022----) running E from O’Reilly’s Island in Co. Roscommon towards a line of about 10 crannogs at the S edge of Derrintober townland in Co. Leitrim, although precise locations cannot be provided for them. About eight possible crannogs were also noted on the Roscomon side. Bronze weapons and a dug-out canoe were reported to have been found in the 1930s. Features that would normally be under water came to light again during abnormally low water levels in 1953 (Irish Times, 17-10-1053). No archaeological features were visible at normal water-levels during 1991. (Faughnan 1944, No. 147) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 September 2008

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.