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While not of great speleological significance...[a]s an archaeological monument it forms part of a complex of 50 archaeological monuments that make up the ancient pre-Christian Connaught royal site of Cruachán. It is therefore of special importance as a cultural adaptation of a natural geological feature...Originally, an earthen mound surrounded the entrance but this was almost entirely removed in the 20th C. construction of the access laneway (Waddell, 1983). Thankfully, however, what is below ground is preserved in excellent condition. This consists of a double souterrain (which is closed-in on one side) leading, after 3m, to a natural cave. In the...

Irish archaeologists have unearthed a 1,600-year-old wooden pagan idol... from a bog in Gortnacrannagh, around six kilometres from the prehistoric royal site of Rathcroghan.The idol was made during the Iron Age from a split trunk of an oak tree, with a small human-shaped head at one end and several horizontal notches carved along its body.Only a dozen such idols have been found in Ireland and at more than two and a half metres, the Gortnacrannagh Idol is the largest to date.The wooden carving was discovered by a team from the Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS), working in advance of the N5...

The lake is home to at least one crannóg -- an artificial island used as dwellings and defense mechanisms in prehistoric Ireland. Crannóg's are the oldest dwellings in prehistoric Ireland. There are additionally at least seven ringforts surrounding the town of Lisacul. Eileen McDonagh, Cathal's mother, told the Irish Independent that he was supposed to be doing his homework when he made the discovery. She said that her son became bored with his schoolwork and went for a walk down to the lake, where he paddled up to his ankles in a pair of wellington boots. It was there that...

The Taoiseach has criticized social media companies such as Facebook, that do not think they are “accountable” for what is posted on their platforms. Asked about threats made against groups of people after a social media video of the recent Roscommon eviction, Mr. (Leo) Varadkar said online platforms are not held to the same standard as newspaper publishers. “As I am concerned, social media posts like that are incitement of hatred and incitement of violence, and if you were a publisher of a newspaper or a broadcaster, you wouldn’t be allowed to promote that kind of stuff and you would...

ROSCOMMON TOWNSHIP, MI — Flood water reportedly is moving quickly downstream toward Old 27 and U.S. 127 after a dam failed in the area. A flash flood warning is in effect for southwestern Roscommon County until 6 p.m. Tuesday following the breakage of the Wraco Lodge Dam. Shortly after noon, the National Weather Service reported water was just inches below a U.S. 127 bridge. There is the possibility of water overtopping the highway between mile markers 185 and 186. Motorists are advised to not drive over flooded roads. "The water is about a foot and a half from the top...

Fire eats 1,500-acres of mid-Michigan forest before being contained 4/17/2005, 1:20 p.m. ET The Associated Press NESTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A weekend forest fire in Roscommon County burned about 1,500 acres, prompting some precautionary evacuations before fire crews contained the blaze by early Sunday. Jim Fisher, the state Department of Natural Resources' fire management specialist, said crews had established a controlled perimeter around the fire by about 4 a.m. EDT Sunday and continued to "mop it up," and put down hot spots. Crews from three townships and the state used bulldozers and off-road engines in addition to regular tankers,...