Connemara Lake Dwellings in their British and European Context with Michael Gibbons

Michael Gibbons is a renowned archaeologist and expert on the cultural landscapes of Ireland’s west coast. He is one of Ireland’s leading field archaeologists.

Crannógs are artificial islands built in shallow lakes, found across Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe. While some in the Outer Hebrides and Alpine regions date back to 3,500 BC, a recent discovery in Lake Ohrid, Albania, has revealed a lake dwelling from around 6,000 BC — the oldest of its kind in Europe.

In Ireland, crannógs were used for thousands of years, serving as dwellings, places of refuge and ritual sites. In Connemara, where suitable timber was scarce, island cashels were often constructed instead. These man-made islands were created by expanding or reinforcing small rocky islets, and represent a distinctive western form of crannóg, especially between Connemara and Donegal.

Recent discoveries include five island cashels known as Oileáin na Lochlannaigh, as well as a site on Lough Fee, near the former seasonal home of Sir William and Lady Francesca Wilde.

Ongoing research and conservation at Ballynahinch Castle, a historic lake island fortress, suggest the island may once have hosted a monastic community. Records point to a shrine dedicated to Saint Feichín on the site, predating the O’Flaherty stronghold that later occupied the island.