Hut site, Mín Na Saileach, Co. Donegal

Co. Donegal |

Settlement Sites

Hut site, Mín Na Saileach, Co. Donegal

Tucked away on gently sloping ground in Mín na Saileach, County Donegal, lies the remains of a rectangular hut that offers a glimpse into Ireland's rural past.

The structure, catalogued as Mín na Saileach 13, measures 5.6 metres by 3.9 metres externally, with interior dimensions of 4 metres by 2.7 metres. Built with its long axis running northeast to southwest, the hut sits just a few metres north of a small stream that would have provided its inhabitants with a ready water supply.

The walls of this modest dwelling stand about half a metre high today, though they would have been considerably taller when the hut was occupied. Constructed with a width of 0.6 metres, they showcase traditional building techniques; coursed stone forms the base, with smaller stones used as packing material between the larger blocks. Remnants of sod layers on top of the stonework reveal that the builders employed a mixed construction method, combining stone and earth materials to create sturdy, weather resistant walls that were common in rural Irish architecture.

Two doorways face each other on opposite sides of the structure, one opening towards the stream below and the other facing upslope. This dual entrance design would have allowed for good ventilation whilst giving the occupants flexibility in their daily movements, perhaps using different entrances depending on weather conditions or the tasks at hand. Dr Eugene Costello's documentation of this site, including detailed measurements and photographs taken in 2020, helps preserve the memory of these humble dwellings that once dotted the Irish countryside.

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