Archaeology

ARCHAEOLOGY
There are many archaeological remains in the southern portion of the Mullet Penninsula. A standing stone is located at Tiraun. These were erected between the Iron Age and Medieval Times and are therefore difficult to date accurately. As to their purpose they may have been used as territorial boundary markers or as burial markers or may have had an astronomical role. Situated at Fál Mór is an old church and graveyard which are dedicated to St. Deirbhile, whose remains are interred here according to tradition. Deirbhile’s Church is now a national monument and dates to the Early Christian Period. The ruins as they appear today were probably built in the twelfth century replacing or incorporating an earlier structure. Folklore has it that if you pass through the small east window three times heaven is your reward. Deirbhile’s Bed, the reputed resting place of the saint is a small square walled enclosure lying within the small graveyard, close to the north-eastern corner of the church. St. Deirbhile’s Well lies a short distance to the north.

St. Deirbhile's Church Fál Mór

SEANDALAIOCHT
Tá go leor iarsmaí seandalaíochta i ndeisceart na leithinise. Tá liagán le feiceáil ag Tír Áine. Cuireadh suas iad seo idir Aois an Iarainn agus an Mhéanois. Mar sin tá sé deacair dáta cruinn a chur orthu. Nil muid cinnte ach an oiread cén fáth a cuireadh suas iad b’fhéidir mar chlocha teorainn no clocha adhlacaíthe nó b’fhéidir go raibh baint acu le réalteolaíocht. Tá sean séipéal agus sean reilig suite ar an bhFál Mór atá ainmnithe in ómós do Naomh Deirbhile, atá curtha anseo de réir traidisiúin. Is séadchomhartha náisianta é Teampall Deirbhile ó go luath sa Tréimhse Críostaí. Is cosúil gur tógadh an foirgnimh mar a fheiceann muid inniú é sa dara haois déag san áit a raibh structúr eile níos luaithe. Dé réir traidisiúin, má éiríonn leat dul tríd an fhuinneog bheag san oirthear trí huaire tá flaitheas i ndán duit. Tá Leaba Deirbhile, áit a bhfuil an naomh curtha, i bhfoirm cearnóg beag fálaithe gar do choirnéal thoir-thuaidh an t-séipéil. Tá Tobar Naomh Deirbhile píosa gearr ó thuaidh