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A JCB DRIVER working on road improvement works on the Cork-Kerry border was minding his own business when he stumbled across a centuries-old subterranean passage.
The discovery was made at Releagh on the Caha Mountain pass N71 roadworks between Kenmare and Glengarriff.
Speaking to Radio Kerry, senior archaeologist with the National Roads Authority (NRA) James Eogan said that a huge hole had ‘simply opened up’ in front of the digger operator.
“Being an experienced driver, he knew this wasn’t normal,” said Eogan.
It’s a souterrain that had been lost to memory, and most likely one that was used for refuge given the very rocky nature of the soil it’s contained in.
Souterrains are ancient underground galleries which were were most commonly associated with a settlement.
“It’s likely between 1,000 and 1,200 years old, so eighth or ninth century,” said Eogan.
It could be pre-Viking. Although there isn’t much evidence of Viking activity that far south, the locals didn’t have much of a problem with raiding each other back then either.
So it may just as much have been a refuge from the Cork neighbours just across the mountain!
South Kerry has a rich heritage for such archaeological finds – this souterrain is the 870th recorded in Kerry alone. While most are not accessible to the public, some (such as Leacanabuaile at Cahirciveen) still are.
“This one is a lot different, tunneled almost into rock, or very rocky soil,” said Eogan.
There’s at least two chambers, the whole thing is about 15 metres in length and 1.4 metres high.
The good news for the NRA is that the roadworks only clipped the very end of the tunnel, with the souterrain’s chambers extending away from the project, so it won’t need to be excavated and there’ll be no delay in construction.
It won’t be accessible either though unfortunately.
“It’s fairly small and hazardous,” says Eogan.
We’ll put in an engineering solution to preserve it, and then look to learn as much as possible about the discovery.
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This country baffles me sometimes… constantly people moaning about a lack of transport and then something really positive like post 1am Luas gets proposed and people are like “nah I’ll walk home thanks” and other comments drowned in negativity. Blame the government all you want folks, a lot of our lack of progress is due to this “no thanks, not in my backyard” generation ruining it for the rest of us.
@The CFC Standard: red line at 8pm on a Friday is pretty rough, imagine 1am? They need to provide proper security to run it at this time.
@The CFC Standard: agreed – there’s also the reality that far too many of our wonderful people behaviour Friday and Saturday nights needs to be called out – it’s little wonder drivers would choose to work 7am until 7pm rather than tolerate the drunken abusive and often outright dangerous behaviour of so many people during the wee hours – so many comments complain about the lack of drivers on the road after midnight and wouldn’t take that risk for love or money and love to point the blame at everyone else in society – seems to be so much hypocrisy in ireland these days
@Fephie Stitz: I totally agree. I wouldn’t feel safe. It’s like that during the day too.
Good news but there should be security on every Luas, especially late nights.
That sounds lovely & safe
Not a hope. Ill walk home thanks
@John Doyle: So, if you lived in say; Saggart, you’d walk the 30km (4hrs) from the city centre home at 1am. Wow, the hyperbole is strong with you.
@Alan Wright: off ye pop I’ll jump on the luas with the 4 big stt security lads on board
@Darren Callaghan: What? I’m advocating for people to take the luas, it was the other guy that wants to walk.
@John Doyle: you could hitch a ride in an ambulance after you’ve been mugged by a couple of scrotes out on bail?!
Brilliant news hopefully it will be 24 hrs when the demand is there
They’ll do both and then drop back to the gteen line only due to antisocial issues.
They could investigate why only 29% of drivers are working at busy periods. Used to be where they would only work at those times. Sounds like there are enough taxis but they don’t like working when someone is going to get sick or abuse them or fight them or flee. Come on Eamonn
@Simon: or maybe taxis are become less of a cash business and drivers aren’t thinking it’s worth it anymore. Accepting card and using apps like freenow, the taxi driver pays a % of the fare to use that service. Cash is king. And the king is dead.
@Ciaran: well said
@Ciaran: in a post-covid society cash is becoming rare or it will be. Everything is becoming digital and for the better
Could we not allow non taxi licenced Uber drivers to operate Thursday to Sunday 10pm to 3am only? They could be Garda vetted and registered with the national transport authority.
Can’t believe Ryan advocating using public transport when he’s single handedly turned the city into a velodrome ……on yet bike Ryan…..Luas drivers already start earlier and finish later than every other public transport provider in the country now you just want them finishing later whilst your green mates work from home and cycle into the city on a Saturday for some bobble tea and some vegan ice cream…..increasing the trams to later operations will only increase anti social activity. The only way it works is if we have Transport Policing …..but you’d rather focus on cycle lanes
Folks, don’t forget to pack your stab vest and crash helmet in your backpack for these after hours Luas journeys home after those extra late nights out in our fair city. Good luck!!
Can we get rid of closing time constraints, and add more night links and 24 hr luas (restricted time table depending on demand) like any sensible European country
If you are getting I get to have luas at 1-1.30am, then you also need then at 4-5am for those of us who start work early
Great. I don’t live in Dublin, but this seems like an eminently sensible plan.
12% hike in taxi fares, ffs… Nobody else in the state getting half that percentage of a rise…. Incredible
Brilliant news … provided the line doesn’t run right outside your bedroom window ,,.?
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