The program of my region

Excavations of a Neolithic Tomb at Tirnony, Maghera, Co. Derry/Londonderry

In the harsh winter of 2010, a combination of root action, and a hard frost, cracked one of the stone supporting the structure of Tirnony Dolmen causing the capstone to collapse into the interior of the tomb. In advance of the repair and reconstruction of the tomb, an excavation was carried out by Queen’s in collaboration with HED (then NIEA) to record the deposits around and inside the tomb which risked being damaged during the restoration. The excavation revealed a complex monument with evidence for human burial and ritual in the Neolithic period. Artefacts discovered during the excavation included fragments of pottery vessels of Neolithic date and flint knives and scrapers. Radiocarbon dates revealed that the monument was constructed about 3900BC.
Dr Cormac McSparron directed the excavations at Tirnony Dolmen. He was from 2002 to 2023 a Research Fellow in Archaeology at Queen’s University Belfast, and is now working with the Historic Environment Division
PLEASE NOTE: Limited parking is available at Bellaghy Bawn
This is a free event but booking is essential at Eventbrite

Church Island Lecture by Thomas McErlean

Church Island in Lough Beg is one of the most iconic heritage sites in Mid Ulster. It has fifth century Patrician traditions but by possibly as early as the six century became a Island monastic site associated with Saint Teady (latinised Thaddeus). In the 12th century it was transformed into the parochial church for Ballyscullion and its lands passed under the control of the Erenagh O’ Scullion family. Most of the parish was composed of the estate of the Mulholland family who held the prestigious role as keepers of St Patrick’s Bell. Very substantial ruins of the medieval parish survive surrounded by it’s ancient graveyard. An important focus of interest is a venerated stone with a hollow ( a bullaun) and associated rag tree which are still objects of religious veneration. In late 18th century the celebrated Bishop of Derry, the Earl of Bristol embellished the church with a very fine stone spire. An annual pilgrimage to the island is still held around the seventh of September , the feast day of St Thaddeus. The lecture will outline the long and sometime dramatic history of this very special place in the landscape.
Thomas McErlean a landscape archaeologist and a native of the Portglenone area. He is a widely published author on many aspects of heritage and has had a varied archaeological career culminating in many years spent in the University of Ulster as a senior research fellow. He has worked mainly in Ireland but has been involved in archaeological projects as far away as East Africa and Tasmania. One of his abiding research interests is the study of the Gaelic landscape with particular reference to the origin and significance of Irish parishes and townlands. He has researched and published work on Irish monastic sites of the Early Medieval period hence his abiding interest in Church Island.
PLEASE NOTE: Limited parking is available at Bellaghy Bawn

This is a free event but booking is essential at Eventbrite