Ballykinler.—In 1860 this crannog was no longer traceable, but fortunately a short description of it had been previously given. The section made through its centre showed it to be of the usual construction—surrounded by a circle of small piles, driven deep into the mud, and secured by cross-beams firmly mortised together, the space so enclosed filled with brushwood, on which was placed a layer of gravel and earth, that process being repeated until the surface became perfectly solid.[196]
Lough Faughan, or Falcon, in the barony of Lecale.—About the year 1845 a crannog was discovered in this lake. “There were large stakes driven into the ground, completely enclosing the space within, and not rising above the surface as a palisade, but evidently for the purpose of keeping in the soil from encroachment of the water. The tradition respecting it is, that there had been a castle on the shore opposite, the chieftain of which caused this island to be made as a place of refuge from the sudden onslaughts of the O’Neils; and to render this retreat more secure he would never allow more than one boat or canoe on the lake.” During drainage operations a “dug-out” of oak was found near this crannog, from which locality were also procured two earthen pitchers (ante, p. [92], [fig. 66]).
Ballywoolen.—This crannog was entire when seen in 1860, in a lake surrounded by hills, the surface of the island nearly level with the water. At one spot there was a flagging of flat stones where the hearth had been, and near it lay a quern.[197] The discoverer states the site of this crannog to be in the county Down; but the only townland in Ireland named Ballywoolen, is set down in the Ordnance Survey as situated in the parish of Dunboe, barony of Coleraine, county Derry.
COUNTY ARMAGH.
Camlough has a crannog at its north end.
Marlacoo Lough, near Armagh, has another.
Lough Ross, near Crossmaglen, also contains one, stated to have been the place of meeting of the Irish leaders in 1641.[198]
COUNTY TYRONE.
During the working of the Commission for the Arterial Drainage of Ireland, a crannog was discovered in this county, but its exact locality was not defined.