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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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Love that headline “an underground tunnel” !
Alan … tunnels can be very different, even underwater or on mountains.
Try and get out more!
And remember – Google is your friend.
“Try and get out more!”
Yeah Alan if only you spent more time partying, sleeping with lots of women and meeting people all over the world you’d know that tunnels aren’t just underground………
Darren, “sleeping with lots of women”? What kind of statement is that?
Or Alan – tunnels can be ON ground.
Check your vision!
I don’t know Denise, I’m not an english teacher.
Darren you said that “partying and sleeping with lots of women” would teach a person things. A bit of a badly thought out statement, right. I don’t think you meant it like that.
chill out denise. nothing wrong with sleeping with lots of women. happy easter
I kinda guessed straight off it wasn’t an underwater tunnel as a digger was involved and the picture showed earth being moved..kinda put two and two together. An underground tunnel on a mountain is still underground. Last time I was out and about anyway..
Denise, he’s a troll, ignore him.
Happy Easter to you too Dave J. Darren is a bit of a loose cannon.
Your just an idiot
Ricki dude, don’t know who you’re referring to but I hope it’s Darren, but…it’s “you’re” man, sorry for being a dick for pointing it out, I just can’t not!!
Sorry my mistake. No it was meant for Darren. Trolling every article on this.
Rephrase : Darren you’re an idiot!
Maybe Darren meant that women have tunnels and if Alan had slept with enough of them then he would have realised this…. it makes sense when you think about it.
So Alan – all tunnels are underground?
Ron , I like your thinking .
It’s a love tunnel baby, yeah
English teacher manqué, more like, Darren!
D’you think he might be the loose canon washed up on that beach the other day, Denise?
Don’t worry Darren, I have a sense of humour and recognised that as a joke!
There’s an overground tunnel outside my house. Not sure how old it is. We just call it a footpath, not sure what the correct archaeological name would be, I guess footpath as well.
I felt that headline was beneath them…
That’s an overpass tunnel.
Ha ha, yes Mary! I think that article about the cannonball was in my subconscious!
Just irresistible, Denise! Thanks for giving me the ammo (pun intended )!
Tunnels tend to be underground
A thousand years old? That would make it more modern than most of the views and opinions of the average Kerryman.
Only awake Aiden/patjoe/goon? Mummy must let you sleep in when you on your easter holiday’s.
Ah sorry Dave I know you must have been pouring through the journal this morning/afternoon looking for my comments. It’s ok, I’m here now.
Yes I can’t live without your witty humorous self. You make my day
It would explain why you seem to latch onto every one of my comments like baby to its mothers t*t
Go on Dave where are the usual conspiracy theories and screenshots?
It’s mad the way your asking me pretty much the same question with your other account Baz on a different article. And it’s also mad the way the two of you start trolling roughly an hour ago. Conspiracy miracy
So you keep tabs on everyone else here and stalk them too, not just me? Makes me feel less special…..
Yes I do indeed Darren while I am in work. You probably won’t hear from me Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Most other days I work. So ill see you and your bran new accounts on them day’s. The 3 day’s I mentioned I be spending with my children. Not talking to a complete shitebag such as yourself on me days of
Looks like I hit a nerve. You’ve replied to 90% of my comments here, regardless of the day or time I’ve left them – usually accusing me of being one of about 70,000 different people most of who I’ve never heard of. Are you a relative of Frank by any chance?
I miss Frank… now on to other matters. Put up a different picture of yourself with a paper from today or the last week and I will duly apologise.
#prayforfrank
#teamfrank
#hashtag
Dave , don’t forget Mr. Fantastic or Sammy anmadra or the other new one he had earlier today , same name as that Nazi commander .
I imagine you adore the attention regardless,being lonely and unlikable tends to have that effect so I’m told .
@Darren and more modern than your shtty pro life and RC views :)
It’s probably a previous invasion tunnel by Cork men!
Darren Kennedy between your comments on older people yesterday and your comments on this today you don’t do yourself any favours in trying not to come across as a little p***k
Do people here do anything other than read my comments? It seems you all know them better than I do.
Did they find the remains of the 1016 all Ireland hide and seek champion in there
You sir, just made me spill my tea with your comment, you win the internet today
How could they be ‘improving the Kerry to Cork road’? Sure doesn’t it already go to Cork!
This being Kerry it’s probably lawful to drink and drive in it
Old Man Cave
The people who made the tunnel seem to have left behind striped poles of varying sizes too.
Stumbled? Was he drunk? Today of all days huh
Whiskey in the Jar territory.
One thousand years old by blessed ass, this project was constructed by Jackie Healy -Rae’s great,great,great,great,great grandfather with a grant from Brian Boru.
The gardai are looking into it
Looks a bit older to me. Roman?
They were here – but didn’t bother to take us over.
Artefacts will provide the clues – as they did to confirm Roman presence here.
No Roman I don’t want to go bowling with you!
The Romans might have come on their holliers but they didn’t settle.
I believe they found some prehistoric healy-rae cave drawings on the tunnel ceilings
That hole will probably hold things up for months now. The driver should have kept digging or filling it in
Engineering solution = a few loads of concrete !!
I dont believe it!!
thats only a large badger hole. was digging him out on monday with my dogs
Its just a fecking pothole.******
Sure it’ll be up on Daft.ie in the morning…
The Jackie Healy -Rae tunnel. .. Politicians own all the Tunnels. . Fecks sake
Looks like a kerry prank then.
Don’t suppose there’s any chance it links up with Connolly Station?
have your say