Céidi Fields is Europe's largest Stone Age land enclosure and one of the oldest known field systems in the world, going back around five thousand years, predating the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge.

The discovery of Céide Fields dates back to the 1930s when a local schoolteacher, Patrick Caulfield, noticed piles of stones and deliberate configurations that were being revealed as he cut turf for fuel. While others didn't didn't seem impressed by his find, Caulfield recognized the importance of what he'd found and preserved the area. Upon further inspection, Caulfield noted how low on the bog these finds were, which meant they were here before bog development, implying a very ancient origin.

Unraveling the site's significance didn't begin until Patrick's son, Seamus made

further investigations. Seamus studied archaeology and his first project was his own family's land. What he discovered included a complex field system, houses and megalithic tombs, all of which had been concealed by century's growth of blanket bog.

Preservation of the site included exploring and mapping every inch of the site, which included probing with an iron rod. Excavations of the site and tombs is offering a unique view of the way of life in Ireland thousands of years ago. People of the time raised cattle, and to do so included clearing forests and dividing land into a regular field system. They were also skilled crafts people and builders in both timber and stone, and they had strong spiritual beliefs.

From research and samples taken from the remains of trees found in the bogs shows that the climate was much warmer than today, which lead to almost year round growth potential. And for a while, these people prospered. But climate change led to a change in the land. It because barren and unusable. Raised bogs formed faster than could be controlled. Even back then, they thought that the removal for the trees caused the climate to change. In thick forest areas, most rain stays on the trees and never reaches the ground where it's absorbed or evaporated back into the atmosphere. By removing the trees, all of the rain reaches the ground and is believed to bleach the earth of its nutrients. This theory is supported by presence of a pan in the subsoil covering the area on this site.

Today, Céidi Fields covers about four square miles on the northern coast of County Mayo overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean. Guides walks take visitors around the site to view the excavated areas, which include a Stone Age pottery and a primitive plow that was used to plow the fields.

There's also a unique interpretive center here that includes an audio/visual theater and cafe, as well as a viewing platform and a museum. The museum includes a life-size recreation of Neolithic people at work. There are also displays detailing the site's biology and geology. And the focal point of the building is a large piece of bogwood that was recovered on the site and now stands up the center of the building.

~ Free car parking available
~ limited access around the grounds