Souterrains / Pasáistí Faoin Talamh

Benagh, Co. Louth

A souterrain at Benagh, Co. Louth, photographed from the chamber, looking out along the passage

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Benagh, Co. Louth
Courtesy of Con Brogan

Benagh, Co. Louth

A souterrain at Benagh, Co. Louth, photographed from the chamber, looking out along the passage

Courtesy of Con Brogan

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The Irish countryside abounds in tales of underground passages. The likely inspiration for most of these tales is the souterrain. These underground

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passages, mostly formed of dry-stone walls with lintels led into corbelled stone chambers. They were used for refuge during raids and possibly also for storage in early medieval times. They often occur under ringforts and new examples turn up every year during ploughing and other ground disturbance activities.

Ás Gaeilge:

Tá an iliomad pasáistí faoin talamh luaite i scéalaíocht thuaithe na hÉireann. Is cosúil gur uaimheanna talún a spreag na scéalta sin. Is pasáistí faoin talamh iad déanta de bhallaí cloiche tirime le lindéir agus théidís isteach i seomraí cloiche coirbéalta. Chuathas i bhfolach iontu le linn ionsaithe agus is féidir gur seomraí stórais ab ea iad sna meánaoiseanna luatha. Bíonn siad le fáil go minic faoi dhúin fháinneacha agus bítear ag teacht ar chinn nua gach bliain agus treabhadh agus gníomhaíochtaí eile faoi thalamh ar siúl.