Céide Fields (Achaidh Chéide)

The oldest known field systems in the world, preserved under blanket bog.

Beneath the north Mayo bog lie stone walls, fields and tombs laid out by farmers almost 6,000 years ago. Together they form the most extensive Stone Age monument of its kind in the world. The site sits above spectacular Atlantic cliffs.

At a glance

• World's oldest known field systems
• Almost 6,000 years old
• Preserved beneath blanket bog

In County Mayo

Céide Fields is in County Mayo, Maigh Eo in Irish, which means “plain of the yew trees”.

More in Mayo

• Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phádraig): Ireland's holy mountain, climbed by pilgrims for over a thousand years in honour of St Patrick.
• Achill Island (Acaill): Ireland's largest island, joined to Mayo by a bridge, with cliffs and blue-flag beaches.
• Clare Island (Cliara): A mountainous island at the mouth of Clew Bay, home of the pirate queen.

Other places of this kind

• The Cliffs of Moher (Aillte an Mhothair): Sea cliffs located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region.
• Newgrange (Sí an Bhrú): A prehistoric monument in County Meath, older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids.
• The Giant's Causeway (Clochán an Aifir): Around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast, a UNESCO site wrapped in the legend of Finn McCool.
• Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch): A beautiful glacial valley of two lakes, home to one of Ireland's most important early monastic settlements.
• The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig): A dramatic outcrop crowned with medieval buildings, once the seat of the kings of Munster.
• Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis): A great early monastery on the banks of the Shannon, once a renowned centre of learning.

The Irish name

The Irish form of Céide Fields is Achaidh Chéide. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.