An Irish Anglo-Norman-period deer park and the site, which lies 2 km south-east of Loughrea, is exceptionally well preserved
A recent paper by the archaeologist Dr. Fiona Beglane in the international journal, Medieval Archaeology, examines the archaeological and historical evidence for a 13th-century deer park at Earlspark, Loughrea, Co Galway. This is the first detailed study of an Irish Anglo-Norman-period park to be published, and the site, which lies 2 km south-east of Loughrea, is exceptionally well preserved. It is documented in 1333, along with its deer, and field survey in the area has identified the park, which is still surrounded by a mortared stone wall 7.4 km long and standing up to 2.6 m in height.
Dr Beglane first identified the park in 2009, and has spent a number of years researching this and other medieval parks in Ireland. Large medieval parks such as the one at Earlspark, which is 913 acres in size, were designed as places to keep deer, they provided a source of venison for the lord’s table and were used for hunting and other leisure activities.
A radiocarbon date from a sample of charcoal in the mortar of the park wall showed that it had been built between 1251 and 1297. The date range lies perfectly between the founding of the town of Loughrea by Richard de Burgh in 1236 and the documentary evidence of the park being in existence by 1333. It ties the construction of the wall to the time of either Walter de Burgh (inherited 1248, died 1271) or his son Richard de Burgh, the Red Earl (died 1326). The construction of the park was an immense achievement, and would have used over 31,000 tonnes of limestone. Dr Beglane said “this was the ultimate status symbol of its day, something like owning a private jet or a yacht – to build it today would cost around €7 million excluding land costs”
Dr Fiona Beglane is a lecturer of archaeology at the Institute of Technology, Sligo and a consultant zooarchaeologist. She has an interest in hunting, medieval landscapes and settlement and in the use of scientific techniques in archaeology. She has a particular interest in integrating scientific and social/cultural interpretations of archaeology and in examining the interaction of humans and animals.
Theatre of Power: the Anglo-Norman park at Earlspark, Co. Galway, Ireland
By Beglane, Fiona (2014)
In: Medieval Archaeology, 58, 20014, 307-317 DOI
FEATURED PHOTO
The Photo of the surrounding wall has been made available by Dr. Fiona Beglane
