County: Donegal Site name: SMINVER 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0017
Author: Fintan Walsh, Irish Archaeological Consultancy, 8 Dungar Terrace, Dœn Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
Site type: Holy well and burnt spread
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 587420m, N 861646m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.503089, -8.194216
There were two separate elements to Sminver 1. Sminver 1a was a burnt spread found by Brian î Donnchadha during linear testing (Excavations 2003, No. 385, 03E1012) and Sminver 1b was a holy well (SMR 107:57). Both investigations were carried out in advance of the proposed N15 Bundoran- Ballyshannon bypass. A 425m2 excavation was undertaken in advance of groundworks.
Sminver 1b was situated in wet boggy land south of the Erne. A previously unknown burnt spread was also discovered 12m east of the well. The holy well and its immediate environs are due to be preserved in situ. This was facilitated by a slight change in the road design in this area by the NRA and Donegal County Council to allow for the open preservation of the feature. The feature was exposed, cleaned back and recorded. The burnt spread was fully excavated.
