Not a partcularly old site, nor really a monument, but this is a place that anyone coming to Achill Island should visit. Above the church in Keel East, running east to west is an overgrown lane. This lane is flanked by the shells of up to one hundred stone houses. This is a deserted village that was wiped out during the Great Famine.
It's actually extremely interesting to walk around here and look at the different houses. Most of just single rooms. The ridges in the small fields can still be seen - the ridges used to grow what proved to be the villages downfall ... potatoes. Some houses show small signs of being 'richer' than others because they have shelves built into the walls or even in a few cases two rooms!
At the time of my visit, towards the west end of the street, some excavations were underway at a couple of the houses, with fields and courtyards being investigated.
When you know why this site is now deserted walking around it ca have a very sobering effect upon you. Reflecting on the stupidity of man (in relying on one foodstuff so heavily) and the the complete stupidity of man (subjugating another group of people into poverty so that they have to rely on one foodstuff). I sat here for while, looking down on the rest of the island and the sea to reflect a while. When I got too depressed I moved on. It's easy for me to do now, the people who lived here didn't have any choice.
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