On the western side of Doo Lough lies Srahwee, just another point on the way to the flat, sandy Mayo beaches between Tonakeera Point and Roonagh Quay. Srahwee has one of the finest examples of a wedge tomb in Mayo, built at the beginning of the Bronze Age, four thousand years ago (though to put it in perspective, the pyramids at Giza were already nearly 500 years old at that time). In Penal times, the flat capstone served as an alter, and the tomb was thus known locally as Altóir. Around two thousand BC, the Bible tells us that Abraham led a small tribe of Semites from Mesopotamia to Canaan, an act that would ultimately lead to the creation of Judaism and also Christianity.Twenty five hundred years later, the first Christian bishop, St. Patrick would arrive in Ireland and begin the conversion of the pagan Irish. He spent forty days and forty nights on nearby Croagh Patrick, a deed commemorated to this day in an annual pilgrimage on the last sunday in July.
Across the road lies Lough Mahaltora - in truth, it is more of a glorified boghole than a lake. Four thousand years ago, the land here was dry and firm, and a great forest of Scots pine covered the valley. Today, the tomb, built no doubt to honour an inhabitant of that forest, lies somewhat bedraggled on a layby on the side of the road, surrounded by bungalows of indifferent design. The forest too is gone, but the stumps of the ancient trees still protrude from the brown waters of the lake like headstones, commemorating the long-forgotten inhabitants of north Mayo.
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| Srahwee wedge tomb - looking east | Srahwee wedge tomb - looking east | Submerged forest at srahwee | Submerged forest at srahwee |