All about Schull....

Rich remains span the centuries, from the Neolithic period portal

dolmen tomb on the Schull/Goleen road, down through the Bronze

Age, represented by the Altar Tomb, a wedge type, and by the famous

Mount Gabriel copper mines on the south east slopes of the mountain.

The ring forts of the Early Christian period were the farmsteads of the

time and the best examples are at Rathooragh, Lissacaha, Meenvane

and Rathruane. There are fine examples of medieval castles, O'Mahony

and O'Driscoll, the dominant clans of the period. What could be better

than a day spent exploring the countryside and discovering the magic

of the past for yourself?

The Mizen Archaeological Society has published its own journal,

"Mizen Journal" and there are other books to read if your interest is

aroused. There are many historical reminders of the more recent past.

Overlooking the harbour, the ruins of St. Mary's church, dating from

the 16th century, stand in the local cemetery on the Colla road. This

old section of the cemetery contains the famine burial area. The Great

Famine of 1847-48 hit the Mizen peninsula with devastating results

and this graveyard doubled in size in a single year to receive the

victims.

At the east end of Schull are the ruins of the old workhouse, built in

1850 to accommodate the destitute of the post famine years. Nearby is

the old West Cork Railway Station, many aspects of which are

beautifully preserved, now a residential building. Another fine

building, now the AIB Bank, was built in the 1930's using stone from a

dismantled church on Cape Clear Island known as Teampall Gallda.