Bearna

For Bearna we considered Lismore’s unique geology. Lismore, (Lios Mòr,) translates directly as “great garden,” due to its rich floral diversity and fertile land, which occurs due to the limestone makeup of the island.

We also thought about how rocks and stones contain echoes of prehistoric islanders. The first picture below (left) is of a “cup marks stone.” The marks were likely left by neolithic people from around 4000-6000 years ago. Theories about the purpose of these marks range from smithing, rituals or art - such as maps pf the stars. Nobody is sure.

The second picture below (right) is a stone from an ancient burial mound. Lismore has an incredibly rich history, with various sites that you can easily explore. Get in touch if any of this interests you and we can point you in the right direction.

A wonderful source for Lismore’s history is local historian Robert Hay’s “Lismore: The Great Garden.”

From the top of Cnoc Aingeal, the fire cairn of Lismore, you look northwards into the jaws of an Earth movement of unimaginable scale and age.

“Lismore: The Great Garden” - Robert Hay