Carrowkeel - Passage to the Past - Project | Heritage in Schools

Carrowkeel - Passage to the Past

Bernie Doherty Knockminna Ns 5
Bernie Doherty Knockminna Ns 7
Bernie Doherty Knockminna Ns 4 Copy
Bernie Doherty Knockminna Ns 3
Bernie Doherty Knockminna Ns 2
Bernie Doherty Knockminna Ns 1
Experts:
Bernadette Doherty
School:
Knockminna NS, Ballymote, County Sligo
Subjects:
History

Knockminna NS 5th and 6th class went to Carrowkeel. It is one of the best preserved Neolithic sites in Ireland. We are interested in learning about Carrowkeel due to its major part in our local heritage. Carrowkeel is located in the Brickleive Mountains. It is close to Castlebaldwin, County Sligo, Ireland.

We departed school at 10am via bus and arrived near the base of the mountain at 10.30am We went up to Carrowkeel with our teacher Ms Mc Donagh and Mrs Caffrey. It was great fun. Bernie Doherty from Heritage in Schools came with us. We went on the 13th of June and we spent most of our day there.

We proceeded to hike to the top the mountain. Along the way, our Heritage Expert, Bernie Doherty, pointed out many examples of local wildlife to us. We learned about the first farmers in Ireland and the geography of the area at that time.

When we reached the top of the mountain, we were fortunate enough to be allowed in to one of the tombs. We filled in a survey including the height, width and circumference of the cairns. Multiple brilliant drawings were produced.

We constructed a cairn with rocks on return to our classroom as shown above. We used the system of corbelling (which is when someone places rocks one on top of the other slowly closing together to make a shelter). 3rd and 4th class went to Carrowkeel the following week.