Post on 14-Apr-2017
◦John Tierney
The Bardic SchoolDromnea, Sheep’s Head
Heritage Council funded Conservation Plan Meeting #2 OCTOBER 2016
john@eachtra.iehistoricgraves.comhistoricgraves.com
thememorytrail.comthememorytrail.com
2
WHO?
7474
Oola Volunteers Team
2
BARDIC SCHOOL
Satellite imagery of Dromnea with archaeological sites shown
Bardic school
Hut cluster
Herdsmans hut
Towerhouse
souterrain
Six inch OS map - 1840s of Dromnea
Note hut cluster & faint line of herdmans hut
Colour 6 inch OS map 1840s
Bardic school
Seefin
poss site of junior Bardic school
KilcrohaneParish church
Ardahill ringfort Dromnea ringfort
Source: Prof L Fitzpatrick
Source: Prof L Fitzpatrick
Conservation Plan Conclusions
•The Bardic School remnants are of national significance, forming part of a late medieval cultural landscape
•Geophysical survey of the immediate environs of the Bardic School
•Conduct test excavations at base of wall•Test excavations within Sullivan house
(house 1) in hut cluster•Reconstruction of wall (mortar clay/lime)
2
HERITAGETOURISM
2
CLANS
1911 Census Archives for Sheepshead & Seefin DEDs
Sheepshead & Seefin DED
Surnames 1911 (n=1168)
Sheepshead DED Surnames 1911 (n=595)
Seefin DED Surnames 1911
(n=572)
2
DONOVAN
2
DALY
2
FIELDNAMES
Photo every field with a name. Record the name, meaning and pronunciation
2
PLACENAMES
Photo every PLACE with a name. Record the name, meaning and pronunciation
Just walk around with your neighbours a camera and notebook
Seefin placenames
Fermoyle placename in logainm.ie.The name is also used for part of Dromnea townland -
Fermoyle means ‘bare rocky summit of hill’ - associated with medieval hunting grounds
2
GRAVEYARDS
Photo every HEADSTONE with a name. Record the names, dates and pronunciation
All known archaeological sites on Sheepshead
2
SHIPWRECKS
-establish current state of knowledgeand add what is missing by using expert
knowledge - your own!
Do this for all archaeological sites
2
Database of shipwreckshttps://heritagemaps.ie/WebApps/HeritageMaps/index.html
532
HOMESTEADS
Photo every FARMSTEAD. Record the names, dates and FAMILY STORIES
2
GENEALOGYTOURISM
Mary Ellen Sullivan
Kilcrohane emigrated 1904
One baptism register gives us four names and often two locations - church & home
60
Conclusions• Sheepshead Way excellent idea & execution• Build on the Gaelic Lordships (Bardic School),
towerhouse & townlands of the 14-16th Centuries as the pivot point for the genealogy of the peninsula– Make the peninsula the most genealogical tourism-
friendly place in Ireland– add historic names and dates to places.– Culturally rich - combine community surveys with
academic historians – Photograph everything– Audio record everybody who has a story to tell and is
willing to tell it.