Craggaunowen- the Living Past
near Shannon Airport! One of Marsh's favorite places in Ireland hides in a secluded valley, only 19 km. from the crowds of Bunratty Castle. There we found the mystery of Ireland's thousands of archaeological sights come to life so we could see and explore what life was truly like long ago in Ireland.
After a stop at the Castle, built by John MacNamara around 1550,
where you will learn all about the art of making wool yarn and clothing
we dip far back in time to the Bronze Age to visit a crannog, an artificial island constructed to be a safe haven for people and their flocks. The crannog at Craggaunowen was being reconstructed during the summer of 2005, which provided the opportunity to see very clearly how it was made!
And here it is today, reconstructed for all to enjoy!
The dugout canoe that gave the family access to their home is handy on shore.
Passing an Iron Age Field, we came to the Tougher, a genuine wooden track excavated from Corlea Bog in 1985. For us, the highlight of this exciting archeological world came next, the Fullacht Fiadh!We have traveled around Ireland many times and seen the mounds of earth that once formed an ancient cooking, and community celebration sight. Most people with whom we spoke were not really clear about what it looked like. Then we arrived at Craggaunowen!
Located near a water supply, the fullacht fiadh consisted of a rectangular hole dug in the ground and filled with water. Then a campfire would be created beside it. Large rocks would be piled into the fire to be heated, and when hot they would be rolled into the water to bring it to a boil. Animal meat would be wrapped in straw and placed into the boiling water to cook. The whole community would gather round for fellowship, their own forms of spiritual uplift, and eventually for a feast! Afterward the broken stones would be pulled from the water and added to the ring that formed the sacred enclosure!
From there we came to the Ring Fort. More than 40,000 Ring Forts or Fairy Forts can be seen all around Ireland, but Craggaunowen allowed us to see, smell and experience them as they were, a normal fortified farmstead from the Christian Era.
Entering the gate we came to a fire heating a pot to dye material to make fabrics some of which were hanging in front of the rectangular house.
A clay pit nearby was all ready for use in preparing pottery and a nearby outdoor lathe was ready to turn wooden bowls.
A round house nearby was set up inside to prepare animal skins for clothing, and food for eating, and in one corner we found the hidden entrance to a souterrain...
Climbing down, you arrive in the underground tunnel,
with rooms for storage, or shelter in times of danger! Some souterrians also offered a hidden emergency exit. Marsh tested this passageway and it worked!
Up the hillside we came to another model from life in our ancient past, St. Brendan's Boat. Brendan (who died c. 583) sailed across the Atlantic to the "Promised Land" in a leather hulled boat. In 1976 Tim Severin reconstructed a boat following the 9th century manuscript describing the voyage and actually crossed the Atlantic! Severin's actual boat is here on display!
What a thrill for those of us who had read Severin's true story, The Brendan Voyage, to see, study, and touch the real boat, and watch footage of the voyage on the monitor nearby!
Then off we went for a walk through the forest of long ago!
Coming around a corner, we found a Wild boar and her nursing babies in their golden-yellow racing stripes! See them?
As our journey into the past came to an end we discovered small flocks of ancient Jacob Sheep, Soay Sheep, and Brown Sheep
and goats doing their ancient duties!
Stop and have a cup of tea and remember your adventures or warm up by the fire! When we left Craggaunowen we could not have been happier! It was a dream that had to end... for our plane would be leaving and we would have to leave the Emerald Isle and its history behind for a time. But we will return for another special day! For information about making your trip to this amazing place, contact Shannon Heritage! Next, spend time reflecting at places of profound meaning in Irish culture and spirituality.
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