IN the late 1990's while driving stakes on land he inherited from his uncles, the Kilbrides, Tom Coffey heard a most uncommon resonating sound. It puzzled him. He investigated further.

Using history books and talking with archaeologists, he found that in all likelihood these unusual resonating sounds were from an old form of loud speaker built for the ceremonies and inaugurations. They were created by passageways underneath the earth.

Almost a decade later and Tom is pouring a cup of tea for a guest to Carnhalla Heritage Centre, a magical sanctuary located between Doon and Cappawhite, where visitors can discover Ireland's mythic past as they ramble through its two miles (spread over 70 acres) of scenic trails dotted with over twenty sites of archaeological note. The centre was officially opened by Minister of State for Public Works, Martin Mansergh, TD, on June 21 - the longest day of the year.

"I grew up two miles away on the hill of the eyelid," explains Tom, throwing a glance out over the East Limerick countryside from inside a window of the centre.

" It was always a kind of a shadowy site. I used to walk up and down to visit my uncles. They left me the farm."

The quiet, almost haunting archaeological landscape exhibits evidence of settlement stretching back possibly from 6000 years to more modern history.

"First of all," Tom explains, "if you walk through the site, the entire landscape is alive – the hill twists right around, there are scared groves or shrines. In early times the land was usually represented by a Goddess - in this case Tea whose shape was clear to see in the rise of the hills - you have that all here- the central hill is Sheela na Gig shaped".

The main cultural significance of Carnahalla, according to Tom, is the presence of Tea's well and the topography of Tea's tomb and surrounds, as described in the tenth century annals. Tea (or Teamhair) was a princess from Egypt who was revered as a Goddess of fertility and life.
Other indicators of the site's importance in ancient time include a platform fort, a bronze age cooking site, a holy well and earthworks described in the annals as that of Tea's tumulus.

"I was reading a book on Professor Michael Ryan and he said that there must be some huge tumulus that was never discovered around Cashel and he sent down a few people from the National Museum to investigate," says Tom who did a diploma himself in Archaeology in 2005 at UCC.

Further exploring led to evidence of international trade in the form of ancient artefacts not commonly found in Ireland. " There is the presence of jasper not found in Ireland and copper cakes indicate early bronze age smelting which was very significant for a royal site," continues Tom.