Archaeology

Aughrim / Slieve Russell Wedge Tomb
At the Slieve Russell Hotel there is a fine example of a wedge tomb, a type of monument built in the period 2700BC to 1700BC. It was moved from Slieve Rushen before quarrying activity began in the mountain. The tomb is a long gallery within a low round cairn. Excavations uncovered bones, some of which were burnt, early Bronze Age pottery and small stone lined boxes. Click here for further information.

The Burren Forest
The prehistoric complex at the Burren forest, just outside Blacklion,  has a dense concentration of archaeological remains, mainly Neolithic, Bronze Age and early medieval. Visitors will discover megalithic tombs cairns, hut sites and pre-bog walls, all suggesting considerable settlement here in prehistory. Among the archaeological remains are the Burren Portal Tomb and the Calf House Portal Tomb, the latter so called because it was converted into an animal shelter sometime at the end of the 19th century. Opposite this is a path leading to the exceptionally well preserved Giant’s Leap Wedge Tomb. One of the roof stones has engravings of cup-and-ring-style art work.  The Burren complex stands on The Cavan Way, a 25 km way - marked walking trail stretching from Blacklion to Dowra. Click here for more information on Burren.

Clough Oughter Castle
Located on a man-made island on Lough Oughter, just outside Killeshandra. The castle is accessible only by boat, which you can hire locally. It was built in the early 13th century by the Anglo-Normans but was soon seized by the O’Reillys. The castle and lands were granted to Captain Hugh Culme as part of the Plantation of Ulster but were then seized by Irish rebels during the 1641 rebellion. In 1987, an excavation at the site uncovered at least four phases of building. Click here for more info.

Cohaw Court Tomb
Cohaw lies three miles south east of Cootehill, on  the R192 road to Shercock. The tomb is visable from the road and signposted with a small carpark on the opposite side of the road. Cohaw is a five chambered dual court tomb standing in a 25 metre long rectangular cairn.  This may have been a mausoleum for local rulers. It probably dates from 2000 BC. Click here for further information on Cohaw.

Kilmore Motte-and-Bailey, Kilmore
Across the road from  Kilmore Cathedral (3 miles west of Cavan town) are the remnants of a motte-and-bailey. There is no public access but the site can be viewed from the cathedral. This motte-and-bailey, similar to that at Turbet Island, was constructed by Walter de Lacy in 1211 as part of a series of 7 fortifications built to secure a roadway to isolate this part of Ulster which was still under Irish control. The motte was dismantled by Cathal O’Reilly in 1226. The de Lacys made various futile attempts to regain their territory in the area. William ‘Gorm’ de Lacy’s last attempt took place in 1233, during which he was fatally wounded.  Today, the site is extremely well preserved and consists of a large flat-topped motte and a crescent shaped bailey, separated by a large ditch. The motte-and-bailey was later incorporated into the estate which surrounded the cathedral. An ice-house was built into the bailey and a demesne wall into the base of the motte. Click here for more info on Kilmore Cathedral.

Ardkill, remains of 'Black Pig's dyke'
"The Black Pig's Dyke" was a series of defensive ditches built between Ulster and Connacht in the 1st century AD (0 - 100 AD). It is also known in Cavan as 'the worm ditch', because according to local folklore it was made by a giant worm wriggling across the land. There is a good example of the dyke on the slopes of Ardkill Hill, 3.5 miles east of Ballinagh.

Ballyhugh Promontory Fort
Near Ballyhugh, three miles south east of Ballyconnell, a small finger of land juts out into a lake. It is surrounded on three sides by water and a deep ditch separates it from the land. These forts were never lived in permanently and were usually used in times of danger. It dates from between 800 BC to 300 AD.

Banagher Grave Complex
High on the slopes of Slieve Glah Mountain (4 miles south east of Cavan town on the road to Ballyjamesduff) is a prehistoric complex with tombs, stone circles and mounds of earth. It dates from between 2500 BC and 1500 BC.

Bellaheady Cairn
Three miles south west of Ballyconnell, not far from the Shannon-Erne Waterway, is a heap of stones marking the site of a prehistoric burial. This may be over three thousand years old. It was traditionally the spot where the legendary Conall Cearnach, who gave his name to Ballyconnell, is buried.

Carrickacroy Dolmen
Carrickacroy lies 1.2 miles northeast of Kilnaleck. The remains of a dolmen and stone circle built on the ridge of a hill. Probable date 2000 BC - 1000 BC.