Mizen Head via the Altar Wedge Tomb

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It was a cold and wet day when we headed out for a drive to Mizen Head. I first found out about these cliffs at an art exhibition in the AIB Bank in the city centre. There was a beautiful illustration that I really enjoyed looking at. So much so that I unfortunately forgot the artist’s name. Sigh.

We drove out from Cork on the N22, turned off to the R585, R587 and then took the R587. In the direction of Ballydehob, we took the N71, R592 and at Toormoore Bay, just past Schull, we found the Altar Wedge on the left. It’s in quite good condition and quite large. Its scenic location really adds to the atmosphere, and if it wasn’t as wet, it would have been a beautiful spot for a picnic. The Wedge is probably over 2000 years old and was excavated in 1989. Around it the archaeologists discovered cremated human bones, seashells and fish bones from different ages. More recently, it was used as a Mass Rock.

It just so happened that the mud under the grass was really thick and my Jeffrey’s Bay uggs just couldn’t deal with it. The result was that I got generously covered in mud from glasses to bum, as I slipped very well, twice.

 

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