What is recorded here

Terraces cut into the rocky hillside at Málainn Bhig resemble monastic steps found elsewhere in Ireland, yet they remain unique to this valley. They sit near St Fanad's Cell and other ancient markers, suggesting religious origins, but a nearby cottage keeps human ambition alive in the story. The stones may have supported prayer, planting or mere survival, while the hidden passage beneath the lowest step waits for someone brave enough to ask what it preserved.

Along the N face of hillside are a series of terraces cut into the rocky hillface running E-W whch appears to have a drystone wall acting as a revetment along the N side. The lowermost terrace has a Man-made underground passage like feature (DG080-032001-) built into and under the W face of the terraced hillside. The dating of this terracing is uncertain, however its close proximity to St Fanad's Cell (DG080-024) which is 285m to the E. Other monuments located nearby include St. Connell's Well (DG080-023), St Fanad's Well (DG080-024004-), bullaun stone (DG080-024001-), Man-made underground passage (DG080-024003-), standing stone (DG080-024005-) and burial ground (DG080-024007-) which are all located c. 280m to the E. This close proximity to a concentration of early medieval ecclesiastical monuments may suggest contemporaneity. These terraces with their drystone revetment are not found in this mountain valley and the terracing appears to be localised to this hillside only. They are similar in form and construction to the terracing on the monastic site at Sceilg Mhichil in Co. Kerry. A small 18th/19th century cottage is located 50m N of this terracing and it cannot be ruled out that the terracing may have been built in the 18th/19th century by the people who lived in this cottage.

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