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Eel weir is a fish trap situated in Dungannon, County Tyrone, where the local bedrock comprises Visean-age strata of the Tyrone Group, a complex sequence of limestone, mudstone, sandstone and siltstone interspersed with chert, coal and conglomerate. The monument is protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 16334.
Fish weirs of this type represent a medieval and early modern form of exploitation of freshwater resources, constructed to direct and trap fish as they moved through river channels. The construction methods for such weirs typically exploited the underlying geology and natural water flow, using locally available stone and timber. Their positioning on particular stretches of river reflected knowledge of fish behaviour and seasonal movement patterns.
The Dungannon eel weir survives as evidence of the economic practices and riverine engineering of historic communities in the Tyrone landscape. The presence of coal seams and other mineral deposits within the underlying bedrock sequence indicates the varied geology of the area, though exploitation of such resources came substantially later. The monument remains a testament to the importance of riverine resources in sustaining local populations over many centuries.
Eel weir is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 16334. View the official record →
Eel weir is a fish trap situated in Dungannon, County Tyrone, where the local bedrock comprises Visean-age strata of the Tyrone Group, a complex sequence of limestone, mudstone, sandstone and siltstone interspersed with chert, coal and conglomerate. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 16334.
Eel weir is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 16334.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Horned cairn. court tomb (1.1 km), Crannog in carnteel lough (1.8 km), Carnteel church. medieval parish church & graveyard, also site of c13th battle (2.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Eel weir's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Eel weir stands on Tyrone Group, bedrock that formed in the Visean. The rock here is limestone, mudstone, sandstone and siltstone, with subordinate chert, coal and conglomerate.