Building, Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, Co. Donegal

Building, Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, Co. Donegal

In the townland of Reachlainn Uí Bhirn in County Donegal, archaeological remains offer a glimpse into Ireland's rural past.

Building, Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, Co. Donegal

The site features what appears to be the foundations of a modest dwelling, measuring roughly 5.77 metres east to west and between 3 and 3.20 metres north to south. The rectangular structure’s entrance was positioned halfway along its southern wall, a practical arrangement that would have provided shelter from the prevailing winds. Of particular interest is a small corn drying kiln built directly into the western wall; a feature that speaks to the agricultural nature of life in this remote corner of Ireland.

Just beyond the south western corner of this main building lies a second, smaller structure. This nearly square building, measuring approximately 3.65 by 2.40 metres internally, has suffered considerably from the passage of time and now stands in a rather dilapidated state. The proximity of these two buildings suggests they were likely used by the same household, perhaps with the smaller structure serving as additional storage or workspace.

First documented by Walsh in 1983 and later described by Herity in 1995, these foundations represent the type of vernacular architecture that once dotted the Irish countryside. The incorporation of the corn drying kiln directly into the dwelling wall shows the resourcefulness of those who lived here, combining domestic and agricultural functions in a single, efficient design. Though modest in scale, such sites help us understand how ordinary people lived and worked the land in historical Ireland.

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Herity, M. 1995 Two Island Hermitages in the Atlantic: Rathlin O’Birne, Donegal, and Caher Island, Mayo. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 125, 85-128.
Reachlainn Uí Bhirn, Co. Donegal
54.66385032, -8.82576838
54.66385032,-8.82576838
Reachlainn Uí Bhirn 
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