The earliest evidence of human activity on the Great Heath, an Fraoch Mór in Irish, is a series of artefacts and surface features which were excavated during the course of construction of the M7 Motorway and during the monitoring of ground clearance in advance of the development of the new G.A.A. playing field on the Heath. They included pits in the ground, plough marks, spreads of charcoal and over 400 stakeholes arranged in four parallel lines. The pits contained flint implements and the remains of pottery – shards of the grooved ware and cordoned urns fashionable around the time the Late Stone Age was giving way to the Early Bronze Age (around 2500 – 1200B.C.).

From very early on the Great Heath seems to have had special significance for the people of the district. It is likely that it became their place of assembly, where they gathered for festivity and the special ceremonial that surrounded the burial and commemoration of their dead leaders.
By the end of the 18th century the Great Heath was reduced to some 600 Irish acres. In the 18th and 19th centuries the open common was used for horse racing when “the Heath Sports” were a two-day event, second only to Punchestown. The race-course was established in the late 18th century by General Walsh of Ballykilcavan to promote horse-breeding in the county.

The Heath was also the training ground for the Queen’s County Militia (4th Battalion of the Leinster Regiment); the Stand House for the race-course served as the officer’s mess during times of training. It was also used for manoeuvres as well as for sporting events by other regiments on occasion. 1,600 soldiers camped on the Heath during one series of manoeuvres in June 1897. Some earthworks relating to this military activity can still be seen on the Heath. In 1836 the Heath was the venue for a popular meeting on one of Daniel O’Connell’s political tours.

The Heath today covers some 426 acres, of which the golf course occupies 130 acres. The Heath Golf Club (originally the Queen’s County Heath Golf Club) has been in existence since 1891. The 9-hole course was laid out in 1920 and extended to 18 holes in 1970; the new clubhouse dates to 1993.

The above is an extract from Fraoch Mór Mhaigh Rechet The Great Heath by John Feehan. Contact us for more info.