A recently discovered archaeological site in Ireland is “hugely significant” and likely “unique to Ireland.”
Twenty-five years ago, John McCullen was working the land at his farm in Beamore, County Meath, when a window fell from one of the ruins that dotted his property. He
climbed up the ruin to put it back and noticed a few unusual things: one of the building materials was red sandstone, which isn’t available locally, and there were pigeon boxes, which had been used by people in the 16th and 17th centuries.
As a recent Irish Times profile details, he’d long heard stories about a Georgian landlord, a linen mill, and a monastery dating back centuries earlier. But what was the real history
of his family’s land?
With the help of archaeologists Matthew and Geraldine Stout, he secured a €50,000 grant
from the FBD Farm Trush, to be distributed over the course of three years – provided the
first month of excavation proved that the site was of significant interest.  McCullen can now rest assured that his land is of archaeological and historical
importance.