In The Footsteps Of The Cardinal

by Colette Quinn
1 year ago
Near Cullyhanna, GB

55 views

The Cardinal had a passion for history and with this walk you can visit the local historical sites, beginning with his home place in Annaghmare then to Annaghmare Horned Cairn on to Corliss Fort and then to Lisleitrim Lough and Crannóg and Lisleitrim Fort, truly an historical experience.

Annaghmare - Cardinal Ò Fiaich’s birth place
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Born 3rd of November 1923 this was his childhood home and a blue plaque was unveiled on his centenary 3rd November 2023.

Annaghmare Horned Cairn
Court tombs are the first type of megalithic monument to have been built in Ireland and they date from around 4000-3000 BC.

The court tomb at Annaghmare is one of the best-preserved examples of its type, with many of its features preserved in situ after they were first revealed during excavation in 1963-64. The horseshoe-shaped forecourt is defined by several large stones up to 1.9m high, with the spaces between filled with drystone-walling. The most unusual feature of the forecourt is a small standing stone to the south-east of the centre. The court suggests that this was used as both tombs and ritual sites.

Corliss fort
Corliss Fort is one of the best-preserved Bivallate Raths in County Armagh. It is a large Rath with two surrounding banks (bivallate) and an intervening ditch. The Fort is on the summit of a hill overlooking a Crannóg in Lough Ross which suggests it may have been occupied by individuals of special significance.

Lisleitrim Crannóg
Crannógs were Island settlements occupied by individuals or families of special significance. Lisleitrim Crannóg is unusually large measuring some 49m north-south by 44m east-west, and standing up to 1.2m above the level of the lough.

Crannógs appear to have been occupied by individuals or families of special significance at either local or tribal level. It is surely significant that this large lake settlement is overlooked by Lisleitrim Fort.

Lisleitrim Fort
Lisleitrim fort (locally known as the Fairy Fort) dates back to the Iron Age and early Christian period. It is one of the most spectacular three ringed or multivallate raths, with several banks and ditches. Its construction must have required a considerable work-force and the resulting earthwork would have presented any attack with an intimidating barrier. With this in mind it is easy to identify that the owner at the time was of high social or political status.