Unexpected Discovery…
Wow! A hitherto unrecorded stone circle, a boulder burial, a gigantic standing stone and a dolmen… all found on a Saturday morning walk.
Ballydehob’s Dolmen
Our expedition began after a great breakfast in Budds – Ballydehob’s newest eating venue: try it out – it has an attractive cheerful atmosphere and the food is excellent. After this sustenance we set out to explore – for us – uncharted territory. Did we travel miles out into the wild hills of West Cork to find these remarkable pieces of archaeology? No, we walked a few metres down the road…
Time for the weekend paper – Robert takes to the Druid’s Chair
Right behind the main village street in Ballydehob is a spectacular example of twentieth century Irish history: a golf driving range with a prehistoric theme!
Aerial view of the site
Ballydehob’s Golf enterprise came with the Celtic Tiger – and went when the Tiger collapsed. It’s now a site looking for a buyer – you could have it!
But we do hope that if someone does buy the site, then they keep all the features: the winding paths by the river, the parkland which feels so rural and secluded, yet is within a stone’s throw of the main N71 highway – and all the New Archaeology...
Riverside Walk…
Boulder Burial…
Circle within an ‘ancient grove’…
Megalith, enjoying a trick of the sun…
The unfortunate demise of the West Cork Golf Academy has left Ballydehob with an unofficial ‘town park’ – a very pleasant place to walk on a balmy spring morning. If only there was a way that this could become a permanent amenity for the community. But the land has a value and – presumably – potential for some worthwhile development. Who knows what the future holds? Meanwhile, we enjoyed our chance discovery of New Archaeology right on our doorstep!
PS – since publishing this post earlier today, I realise from comments received that some readers have been puzzled by it: rest assured that all this ‘new’ archaeology dates from the twentieth century – and was constructed as part of the golf project! They made such a good job of it that it could just prove very confusing for archaeologists of the future…
A Place Apart certainly – the Fuschia Brand labelling dating from vanished times
Finola enjoys the spirit of ‘A Place Apart’
Discover more from Roaringwater Journal
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Roaringwater Journal 
Robert, looks like you like color too…pink socks…charming.
LikeLike
The stone circle was unrecorded? Goodness knows what there is still to be found underneath our feet. I’m afraid I get angry at the bars to countryside access in Ireland, and in particular the golf clubs that sprang up to make a few quid for the speculators in the ‘good times’. The Old Head of Kinsale is a prime example.
LikeLike
Hello Roy. Sorry, I hope I haven’t misled you (or anyone else) – the stone circle etc were all built as part of the golf driving range back in the 20th century! But they made a very good job of it. Guaranteed to confuse archaeologists of the future, perhaps…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah…:-)
LikeLike
Budds is looking amazingly colourful and that walk might be something to try next thursday
LikeLike
Robert, I promised myself ONLY one full Irish breakfast when I’m with you both and looks like Budds the place – bring on the fried bread!
Shauna
LikeLike
Must try Budds!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on West Cork History.
LikeLike