Lough Scur

Lough Scur forms part of the Shannon–Erne Waterway, lying at the summit of the canal connecting Lough Scur to the River Shannon, just south of Leitrim village. The original canal was constructed in the 1840s, fell into decline as the rail network prospered, but was reopened in 1994 to develop the region's tourism industry.[16] The levels of Lough Scur are controlled by Waterways Ireland via two Spillways. The recording of large numbers of ancient dug-out canoes from county Leitrim remind us that waterways have always been a key means of transport in Ireland.[17]

The primary human settlements at Lough Scur are the villages of Keshcarrigan and Drumcong.

Mesolithic hunter-gatherers may have frequented Lough Scur sometime c. 8,000 – c. 4000BC.[18][n 4] Archaeological finds from Lough Scur include five Lithic flakes, a polished shale axe, a dolerite axe roughout, and a piece of leather under a dugout canoe.[18][n 5] The leather and canoe are not dated, but the flakes are probably Mesolithic.[18]

Raftery (1957) claimed small Stone Age crannogs were observed at Lough Scur. The pre-Bronze Age material were described as flat, circular sites of stones, 6-10m in diameter and 400 cm above the lake mud. The interiors often consisted of brushwood, irregularly sized stones and sometimes horizontal timbers, some charred. Charred animal bones were found on the surface,[19] indicating swine (wild boar, domestic pig) and oxen were part of the diet.[20]

Stone Mould recovered from Lough-Scur Crannog

There was a Bronze Age human settlement at Lough-Scur c. 4,000 – c. 2,500BC. The "Lough-Scur Stone Mould" is an triangular coarse block of white sandstone found on the Lough-Scur crannog,[21] bearing matrices for casting Copper and Bronze flat axes or spear-heads,[22][23] and containing three moulds, one flat axe and one looped Palstave on obverse, with one flat axe on reverse.[24][25] These were fashioned before the lake dwellers became familiar with the use of Iron sourced from Sliabh an Iarainn for example.[26] The illustration shows the side with moulds for a plain Celt (tool) 7.5cm long and for a Celt 10cm long with cross strop and ring.[27] The mould is part of the Royal Irish Academy's Collection.

Lough Scur contains five or six crannogs (artificial lake dwellings).[28][29] Pre-Celtic archaeological remains from Lough Scur are preserved by the Royal Irish Academy museum and National Museum of Ireland-

• Five Lithic flakes, shale axe, dolerite axe roughout, piece of leather.[n 6]
• The Lough-Scur Stone Mould.[27][31]
• The Lough-Scur Quern-stone, perhaps the largest example in Ireland, discovered on the crannog.[31][32]
• The Kiltubrid Shield discovered on Kiltubrid townland nearby Lough Scur.
• The Keshcarrigan Bowl discovered in the canal between Lough Scur and Lough Marrave.[33]
• Approximately one cask of bones found on Lough Scur crannog.[31]

Aghascur, Lough Scur at back.

An ancient stone monument, probably a Druids Altar,[34] is prominently located 400 yards south of the lake in a sloping pasture anciently named Irish: Aghascur, meaning 'field of the Scur'.[3] Set against the spectacular backdrop of Lough Scur and Slieve Anierin, it is marked "Dermot and Grania's Bed" on some maps.[35] Although two erect stones at the south have certainly been artificially set upright, this anomalous monument is extremely doubtful and, on the evidence, cannot be accepted as a megalithic tomb, but rather an attempt to split a rock outcrop from underlying bedrock.[36][n 7] It may have been a Druids altar before Christianity. There is also a Cist located here.

In 1265AD, Aedh mac Felim Ó Conchobair constructed a fortified "castle" at Loch Scur.[37][n 7] Defending the Conmhaícne of Muintir Eolais from Norman conquest was a military objective, and in 1270AD his Lough Scur regiment and Conmhaicne forces both participated in the decisive Battle of Áth an Chip.

Crannogs occurred at Lough Scur through the Middle Ages,[25] and the Irish Annals allude to a fortified crannog at Lough Scur.

• "1346: Four sons of Cathal, son of Mag Raghnaill the Blind-eye, were taken prisoners on Loch-in-sguir by Concobur Mag Raghnaill. And Tomaltach Mag Raghnaill took them with him to Caisel-Coscraigh and they were killed there, the saddest tale that was done in that time.[38]
• "1390: Manus O'Rourke, who had been imprisoned by O'Reilly in the castle of Lough Oughter, made his escape from it, and went to the castle of Lough-an Scuir; but the Clann-Murtough, being informed of this by his betrayers, they slew him as he was coming ashore out of a cot.[39]

In the 19th century, a portion of a heavy oak-frame, with mortices and cheeks cut into it, was found on a crannog here.[31][40]

In 1570 Sean Reynolds built a 'Castle' at Gowly townland on a peninsula called Castle Island.[41][n 8] Castle John was three stories high and surrounded by good rock land. Between c. 1570 – c. 1729 Castle Sean was residence to Sean Reynolds (d. 1619), Humphrey his son (d. 1661), Sean his grandson (captured and probably executed during the Irish Rebellion of 1641) and another grandson James (d. 1729), [n 9] who probably abandoned the Castle during his lifetime. Dilapidated ruins of Castle Sean (Irish: Caisleán Seóin) remain today, but are not preserved as national monument, tourist, or heritage site.[43] Some of the building collapsed c. 1908 but was repaired by a heritage preservation society.[44]

• 
  Castle Sean c. 1791
• 
  Castle & Jail view
• 
  Jail Island c. 1791

On 6 April 1605, Sean and his son Humphrey were appointed gaoler of county Leitrim. They constructed a 'prison' on 'Jail island' (Irish: Oileán an phriosuiin) in Lough Scur. The jail cells were small with holes about six inches in diameter for air.[44] Tradition recalls many people being hanged on the island,[45] and that Sean was killed by a soldier from Longford avenging his sister's death there.[45][46] Prison Island was abandoned once Carrick-on-Shannon gaol became established. Dilapidated ruins of the prison remain but are not preserved for heritage.

A tradition of metalworking at Lough Scur is recorded. Five Metalsmiths from "Lougheskure" obtained grants of pardons in the Elizabethan Fiants c. 1583 – c. 1586AD.[47]

• Gilla Gruma O'Flynn.
• Charles O'Flynn.
• Toole O'Fenane.
• Teige oge O'Fonan and Eoin O'Finan, named as Tinker metal workers.

In the early 20th century, a book or manuscript titled the "Book of Lough Scur", on the Reynolds family, supposedly existed in the library of an unidentified deceased person living near Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim.[48]

"Book of LoughScur - A book or manuscript bearing this title, on the Reynolds family (ancient name MacRannal or Magrannal), County Leitrim, was heard of about three years ago in the neighbourhood of Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim, as having been seen in the library of a gentleman who had died a little while previously; but his name was not ascertained. Materials are being collected for a history of the Reynolds family, and information regarding this book or the loan of it would be much appreciated. [June 1st 1905]".

[text:[49] query from [Henry F. Reynolds, 93, Denbigh Street, S.W.]

"I have never heard of the 'Book of Lough- scur,' but if it be in existence, it will probably be found either in Trinity College or the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin." [21 Oct 1905]

[text: [48] response from [Baron Seton of Andria]