We were lucky - it would have normally been closed but we got lucky as a bus full of archaeology students pulled in behind us and we were able to attach ourselves to their information tour.
Very interesting indeed.
The ancient (145BC) oak planks, samples painstakingly retrieved from a sunken path of about 2Km across the bog.
Assembled in the order they were found after care to preserve the planks.
They say the road could not have stayed above the bog for more than 10 years or so - which seems a lower return than one might expect given the extreme effort that had to have been involved in the construction. On balance, it seems probable it was erected for some specific purpose - to allow passage across the stretches of bog for some special event and not preserved 9as had been done with other bog roads) as events had moved on. Apparently thee is another one traversing another stretch of bog in line with it so the trick on foot must have been an long one. This area has raths and hills which were of general importance and wont to be sites of gatherings e.g. at the hill of Uisneach to hold legal courts, then this may represent a trail laid out for some such gathering.
I noted a nice mural above the entrance to the preservation chamber
Some other interesting artifices and replicas thereof were on display too.
Well worth a visit.
