Twelve-year-old Cathal McDonagh might be forgiven for skipping his homework this one time as he chanced upon the remains of an ancient boat that could date to the Bronze Age.
As the Irish Independent reports, young Cathal made the remarkable discovery while wading in the shallows of the lake behind his home in Lisacul, outside Castlerea.
The 17ft wooden boat was found in a lake that has at least one crannóg — a human-made defensive island originating in Neolithic times — so experts from Dublin headed to Roscommon this week will be eager to determine its possible link to the area’s rich heritage.
The Irish Independent has more on the story, and Cathal and his father also spoke to Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ Radio 1 about the find.
Well done to 12 year old Cathal McDonagh of Lisacul, Ballaghaderreen who recently discovered what may be a 4000 year old log boat while paddling in Cloonaholly lake.
— Ballaghaderreen (@BealachanDoirin) June 8, 2020
(Roscommon People) pic.twitter.com/lzzvN25XP7