Back to gallery

Dun Bristé #1

The well photographed sea stack at Downpatrick Head

 

It was raining when I took this shot. Some more to follow

 

Dun Briste, an impressive sea-stack, estimated to be approximately 50 metres in height, stands 80 metres off Downpatrick Head, in the town-land of Knockaun, east of Ballycastle, Co. Mayo.

According to the annals Dún Briste was separated from the mainland in 1393.

Some years ago, a helicopter landed several people on the stack; they were the first humans to set foot there for centuries. The party included Dr. Seamus Caulfield and his late father Padraig Caulfield, NT.; Fr. Declan Caulfield, R.I.P.; Noel Dunne, archaeologist; and Prof. Martin Downes, formerly of Castlebar. They camped there overnight and surveyed the surface where they found the remains of a medieval house, cultivation ridges, walls, and a broken quern stone (a stone used for grinding corn).

3,751 views
50 faves
17 comments
Uploaded on June 3, 2013
Taken on June 2, 2013