By Derek Olson
Inishmore is the largest of the Aran Islands of Galway Bay in Ireland and is an area consisting of twelve square miles. It is the largest island off the Irish coast with no bridge or causeway to the mainland.
One of the most remarkable features of Inishmore island is the Poll na bPéist which translates to Serpent’s Lair, relating to the legend of a reptilian sea monster from Gaelic folklore. Most of the locals refer to the Poll na bPéist as the “Wormhole.” This is likely the most unusual sight you’ll encounter if you ever explore Inis Mór on the Aran islands, and it is truly considered one of Ireland’s top hidden gems, because what you will behold is an almost perfectly cut giant rectangle in the limestone floor.
The Wormhole’s dimensions are approximately 82 ft long, 30 ft wide and 70 ft deep. The pool is connected to the sea by underwater channels that allow the water to flow in and out with the tide. Sometimes, waves crash over the edge of the pool, filling it from above. The water level and color change depending on the weather and the time of day, creating different effects and moods.
The Wormhole can only be accessed by walking along the cliffs south of the ancient site Dún Aonghasa where the sea water ebbs and flows at the bottom of the cliffs and into the pool where the Wormhole begins to fill up, overflows, and then starts to drain. The process starts over and over again, and is said to be mesmerizing.
As stated, this enigmatic site is in close proximity to other prehistoric sites such as Dún Aonghasa, a semicircular stone fort that sits on the edge of a 328 ft cliff nearby and is truly is a sight to behold. It is the largest and best-known of several prehistoric hill forts on Galway’s Aran Islands. Although it is unknown when exactly Dún Aonghasa was engineered, many believe it dates back to the Bronze Age and Iron Age, circa 1100 B.C. or earlier.
So its interesting that the wormhole is in close proximity to these other ancient sites. Upon close observation, the Wormhole appears to reveal cut-like marks, especially on its seaward side, indicating that it may not be of natural origin as the mainstream narrative states. Similar ancient rectangular cut outs into the ground can also be found around the world in places like the Perperikon archaeological site in Bulgaria.
This Wormhole has baffled people for centuries, and got its name from the ancient Irish name, Poll na bPéist, which directly translates to the ‘hole of the worm.’ However, the ‘péist’ they referred to in the past was far more intimidating than a lowly garden pest. The ‘péist’ or the Oilliphéist was a reptilian sea monster from Gaelic folklore that scared people into staying on land. The péist was believed to live in lakes and rivers around Ireland, and they appear in many stories in deadly battles against famous Irish saints.
The name “Oilliphéist” is derived from Irish Gaelic, with “oil” meaning “great” and “péist” meaning “worm” or “serpent.” Thus, the Oilliphéist is often described as a great serpent or water monster that supposedly dwells in the depths of the River Shannon or other bodies of water in Ireland. the Oilliphéist is portrayed as having a long, serpentine body covered in scales.
It was believed that the wormhole of Inis Mór was a passageway for the creature to transfer from land to sea. Some believe that ancient locals sent sacrificial offerings through the hole to appease the péist, whom they were deeply afraid of.
Is the Wormhole of Inishmore natural or was it crafted by the ancients? Was it crafted by the megalithic builders of Dún Aonghasa or an earlier civilization?
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Sources: https://mythical-creatures.com/glossary/ireland/oillipheist/
megalithicmarvels.com 