Lough Gur - SE Shore

This newly-exposed shoreline contains, paradoxically, the traces of an ancient wooden double-chariot race track almost 2.5 kilometres long... wrapping around the lake and to the furthest end.

These races were part of the ancient August Lughnassad festival - also featuring livestock judging, horse racing, wrestling matches, giant feasts and food displays, occasional fist fights, oxen pulls, displays of crafts, and much music, eating, drinking, flirting and dancing.

In other words... a full-bore country fair with ritual overtones. At its height between 350 BCE and about 500 CE approximately 20,000 people participated, it took weeks to prepare, and people (and their livestock) came in from EVERYwhere. Because it took such effort, it was held every two years.

Royalty, chieftains and hosting families viewed all the proceedings from tent pavilions on a flat-topped hill to the right (off frame) and were kept fed and happy by a steady stream of helpers going up and down the hill on a steep service road. The remains of tiered stone "grandstands" were recently discovered up there by our team.