Cruachan ~ Rathcroghan A Prehistoric Irish Gem

 

By Barzac Tatak - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=148170798

Cruachan ~ Rathcroghan ~ Ráth Cruachan 

Rathcroghan is an Irish archeological gem, tucked into the emerald countryside of County Roscommon and spread out over 2.3 square miles, it is one of Europe’s biggest unexcavated prehistoric sites.

The site was first begun during the Neolithic period (4000BC-2500BC) and continued through the Bronze Age (2500BC-500BC) the Iron Age (500BC-400AD) and the medieval period. The Celts arrived in Ireland in roughly 500BC bring with them the knowledge of iron smelting. They did not replace the inhabitants, the Beaker People, but the two populations melded into one.

They did, however, replace whatever myths/religious significance of the Rathcroghan site with their own. It is believed that the largest mound was topped with an enormous temple. Rathcroghan became the capital of the kingdom of Connacht and was home to the mythological Queen Maeve.

Rathcroghan was also closely associated with Samhain, a major Irish festival that we know as Halloween. The cave of Oweynagat, which was believed to be an entrance to the underworld, the home of the Sidhe, the fairy folk.

The site is scattered with ring forts and burial mounds that remain unexcavated. It would be amazing to see what’s inside, but that is not to be.

I’m really enjoying diving into Irish mythology for my next book, The Fairy Queen, book three in the Midsummer Women series. I hope to have it finished by the end of the year, but all this fascinating research is distracting me!

 

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