I live in a very special place called Arney in south west County Fermanagh. A few years ago I was introducing a speaker at the start of a community heritage event in a local hall. Although the venue was packed, a friend of mine managed to get a seat in the back row. After the presentation was over, he told me about a short conversation he had overheard at the beginning of the evening between two men sitting directly in front of him. “Who’s yon boy”? said the first. “They say he’s from Strabane,” said the second. “Oh, and what does he do”? “Well, they say he’s the sort of boy who goes out on a Sunday after dinner looking for things”. The observation was well made because it is what I do, and I was pleased with the concise no-nonsense description.
As a walker, cyclist and a small boat owner I have explored the Fermanagh countryside by land and water, and as an avid heritage fan I’m always on the lookout for natural, built, archaeological and historical sites and monuments. I am also a passionate promotor and practitioner of community-led archaeology and heritage activism and was involved in several award winning heritage projects including Battles, Bricks and Bridges (2014-16) and Cuilcagh to Cleenish (2019-22).
As a former Field Monument Warden for a government department I visited hundreds of protected sites and monuments throughout Fermanagh, south Tyrone, and north Armagh. As a consequence I have been highly privileged to be one of only a few people who has had the opportunity to see such a variety of monuments in their landscape settings, and to imagine the societies who built them and why. Our rich heritage environment provides evidence of settlement from about 4000 BC to the present day and includes Neolithic tombs, Atlantic Rock Art, Bronze Age cairns, stone circles, Iron Age linear earthworks, hill forts, Early Christian monastic sites, Medieval churches and Plantation castles. In all there are sixteen thousand sites and monuments in Northern Ireland of which a fifth are in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area.
However, I believe that most of us have forgotten how and where to find and appreciate these marvels, many of which are often hidden in plain sight. A truly rich heritage legacy has been handed down to us, but to protect it, we need to understand it.
In these posts I explore aspects of this heritage, and discuss its relevance to stimulate debate about its protection and future use, and provide information about where you can find different categories of local monuments, or where to view artefacts displayed in museums. Heritage matters can be controversial, so I will unpack some of the topics that can raise passions.
Finding out what is on a nearby hill, or coming upon an ancient monument or site you haven’t seen before can create different perceptions about our historic landscapes, generate curiosity about why they were constructed, and inspire wonder at the aspirations and achievements of past societies, and even help connect you to our ancestors – who clearly were an interesting and sophisticated lot.
To help you explore the landscape around you begin by searching the Historic Environment Map Viewer for Northern Ireland. There is a similar site with the same name for the Republic of Ireland. Both sites will enable you to connect with sites and monuments around where you live. Simply click on the dots to open specific site details. You’ll be surprised at what you will find. If you want to visit a monument on private land, always check with the landowner first. Save the website link to your phone, and you will have it to hand whenever you venture out. I am always happy to hear from you with queries and suggestions for future articles. Have fun.
Notes From The Field 