Prehistoric Monuments
Shell Midden, Tawin, County Galway
The Seventh Millennium of the Clarinbridge Oyster Festival?
Shell middens are heaps of discarded Oyster shells. A large number can be found around the coastline of Ireland, and one of them can be seen at Tawin East, a few kilometres west of Clarinbridge. They date back to Mesolithic times. In those early days, before the practice of farming had spread to this island, People were hunter-gatherers and lived in small family groups, mostly in primeval woodland along rivers and around lakes. Once or twice a year, however, according to landscape archaeologist Sarah Cross, they would come together in large groups by the seaside to feast on oysters, drink beer, exchange news and gossip, sing, dance and – hopefully – meet a marriage partner. Just as they do in Clarinbridge every year in September. Ms Cross also says that corn was first grown for brewing beer, not for bread. Interesting.