In early times no district in Ireland presented more favourable conditions for aquatic retreats than the county of Fermanagh, with its countless lakes and bogs, interspersed and embosomed in the primeval forests which were then extant. These advantages would appear to have been fully recognised by the crannog-builders, as we find more remains of these lacustrine abodes here than in any other part of the island. The number of crannogs now recorded in this county amounts to about 40, but of course this is by no means the full quota that might be disclosed by the adoption of a general system of exploration. Such exhaustive methods of research have not as yet, however, taken deep root in Ireland, so that the few reliable data of this character that have come to light we cannot afford to pass over, even in this brief sketch. The following extracts from Mr. Wakeman's reports are selected for the purpose of illustrating the structure of these remains in this part of Ireland, and the general character of the relics left on them by their inhabitants.
BALLYDOOLOUGH.
Ballydoolough ("town of the dark loch") is a small sheet of water some five miles from Enniskillen, in which there is a small island which, in 1870, was recognised as a crannog, and subsequently investigated.
"It contained, in wonderful preservation, three-fourths of the foundation of its original log-house, the beams of which were mortised together, and further fastened with pegs of oak. The antiquities here discovered were very interesting, and consisted of stone, wood, bronze, iron, a mixed metal, probably findruine, and pottery of which I have given examples in this and former papers. The most curious relic noticed here was an Ogham stone, which has been pronounced the most northern monument of its class yet discovered in Ireland. The pieces of pottery were very numerous, and usually exhibited ornamentation of an extremely early kind, amongst which chevron patterns similar to those found upon 'sepulchral urns' were conspicuous. The bronze articles were a thin plate of genuine antique bronze, supposed to be part of a vessel; a looped pin about 4¾ inches in length; a thin ribbon, and an article apparently belonging to horse-furniture. Two iron knives, one of which had traces of bronze-mounting, were also picked up: these resembled like articles found in barrows in England. A brooch, partly composed of a white metal, probably findruine, also occurred, as well as a portion of a shoe of a small horse or ass. There were quern stones, whetstones, a crucible, and numerous pieces of iron slag. All the portions of vases found were composed of earth and sand, fire-hardened. There was no glazing or trace of the use of the wheel. Many of the specimens were furnished with handles or ears. A solitary vessel of wood, probably yew, was discovered entire, but reduced almost to a state of pulp. Among other relics were so-called sling-stones, immense quantities of hazel-nuts, three canoes, each formed of a single piece of oak, and a small oaken vessel formed of staves." (B. 217, p. 314.)
"THE MIRACLES."
At another locality bearing the singular name of "The Miracles," situated near Monea, and now a bog, but formerly a lake, a crannog was revealed by the turf-cutters.
"Amongst the stone articles were the usual class of whetstones, and two circular grinding-stones, the only specimens of their kind I have ever heard of as having occurred in a crannog. The larger measures 8 inches across; the smaller is now in the Museum of our (Kilkenny) Association, it having been presented by Mr. Plunket. The material of both is close, yellow sandstone. The bones here were numerous, and of the usual crannog class. Singlepiece canoes had from time to time been found in the surrounding loch. The remains of pottery found here were unimportant; but at least one very good crucible, as well as iron slag and charcoal, were turned up." (B. 217, p. 320.)
LOUGH EYES.
Lough Eyes (anciently Tobernasoul, i.e. "the Well of the Eyes"), a small lake only two-thirds of a mile long and a quarter broad, contained a number of crannogs. The largest is 288 feet in circumference, and has a maximum height above the lowest summer level of 10 feet, and is therefore never entirely submerged. "Stockading still exists in a very interesting state of preservation. To the west and north-west the stakes are four deep, and are placed so close together as almost to touch. They are all, or nearly all, of oak, roughly worked, and sharply pointed by a metal axe or adze."
A large quantity of broken pottery, like that from Ballydoolough, and some flat pieces, apparently lids, and a club of deer-horn, were found on it. Iron slag, pottery, bones, etc., were found on all these crannogs. (B. 191, p. 553.)