O Fiaich’s Country Cycle Part 1

by Colette Quinn
6 months ago
Near Cullyhanna, GB

17 views

A moderately hilly, circular cycle route on roads, approximately 37.4 miles long. Along with spectacular views there are quite a few stops to experience some of the Cardinal’s favourite local historical sites.

Derrymore House
Derrymore House is a thatched cottage, built around 1776 for Isaac Corry. Corry was a prominent politician and MP for nearby Newry for many years and a key promoter of the Act of Union of 1800 which may have been drafted in the drawing room. The associated landscape park was designed by John Sutherland in the late-18th century. The small flower garden at the house was developed in the 19th century. Four gate lodges were added in the 19th century, one before 1834, two before 1861 and one before 1906. Part of the parkland was occupied by Nissen huts during World War 2. Today the house and its parkland are cared for by the National Trust and are open to the public.

Craigmore Viaduct
Construction began on the Craigmore Viaduct in 1849 and the bridge was opened in 1852. The 18 arch viaduct designed by Sir John O’Neill sweeps across the valley of Camlough River. The highest arch is 126 foot making it the highest viaduct in Ireland. The Egyptian Arch was completed in 1851 and was designed by William Dargan. The design was based on the Pylon, or gateway to an ancient Egyptian Temple. The latter of course is the origin of the name that we give to those giant steel structures that carry power lines between settlements. The Eighteen Arches of the Craigmore viaduct and the Egyptian Arch are part of the railway system and carry the Belfast to Dublin rail link.

Clontygora Court Tomb
This court tomb is a striking feature of the Neolithic legacy of South Armagh. It is locally known as the King’s Ring and is badly damaged as some of its stones are said to have been used to build the Newry Canal – but it is still very impressive. The U-shaped forecourt, defined by tall stones, led into a gallery of probably three chambers. The chambers are built of very large stones with some roofing slabs still in position, but little cairn material survives. Excavation in 1937 disentangled the monument from later field walls and found cremated bone, flints, Neolithic pottery, and Bronze Age pottery in a secondary context.

Ballymacdermot Court Tomb
This monument, lying on the southern slopes of Ballymacdermot Mountain close to Newry, is an extremely well preserved Neolithic burial site with three chambers. It can be dated between 4000 and 2500 BC. Situated within the Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the site offers excellent views of Slieve Gullion and the smaller hills of the geological ring dyke as well as the Mourne and Cooley mountain ranges.

Ballykeel Dolmen
The dolmen is composed of 3 blocks of stone forming a tripod strong enough to support a 4th block, 3 meters long. In 1965, archaeological excavations were undertaken on the periphery of the dolmen. On this occasion, the table was replaced due to its poor condition by a new stone block with a similar shape to the first one. Near the dolmen, the remains of an ancient cairn were also discovered, a sort of covered passage tomb, now completely collapsed. According to archaeologists, the dolmen and its cairn were used as a funeral altar and a place where certain rituals and sacred ceremonies were practiced.