Achill-Henge may be built over prehistoric site

Theresa McDonald, Managing Director of the Achill Archaeological Field School, voiced her objections this week over the Achill-Henge which was built at Pollagh in November by Joe McNamara. The archaeologist believes that a prehistoric site could be less than half a kilometer from where Achill-Henge is now standing. 

A modern replica of Stonehenge, which has been dubbed “Achill-henge” [Credit: Michael Mc Laughlin/The Mayo News]

Speaking to The Mayo News, McDonald said, “We’re worried that there is an archaeological site, mostly prehistoric, less than half a kilometre from the site. It is mostly covered by bog, as are a lot of sites in Ireland. There was also an old railway line from Slieve Mor going through the site of the so-called ‘henge’ to Purteen Harbour, that’s gone now because of the unauthorised development.” 

The Achill-Henge was constructed in November by architect Joe McNamara and resembles the famous Stonehenge structure. 

“The [archaeological] site is on the Sites and Monuments Record for Co. Mayo. There is evidence of there possibly being a bronze age monument and we don’t know how extensive the site is, in theory it could stretch to the site of the Henge,” added McDonald.