This unusual formation may mark the location of a crannog; an artificial island dwelling that would have been constructed centuries ago. These structures were typically built by driving wooden piles into the lakebed and creating a platform with stones, timber, and earth, serving as defensive homesteads for Irish families from the Bronze Age through to the medieval period.

The potential crannog at Doire Uí Fhríl remains tantalisingly unexplored, its secrets hidden beneath the lake’s dark waters. Without closer inspection, archaeologists cannot confirm whether this reed circle truly conceals the remains of one of these fascinating lake dwellings, or if it’s simply a natural quirk of the lakebed. Crannogs were once common throughout Ireland and Scotland, providing their inhabitants with natural protection from raiders whilst keeping them connected to vital water routes for fishing and transport.

This site was documented as part of the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, a comprehensive project undertaken in 1983 that catalogued the county’s archaeological heritage from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century. The survey, led by Brian Lacey and his team of archaeologists, identified hundreds of sites across Donegal, though many, like this possible crannog, remain mysteries waiting to be properly investigated. The reeds continue to grow in their perfect circle, perhaps marking where an Irish family once made their home on the water, or perhaps simply following the whims of nature.