Gufuskalar (Gufuskálar) Irish Settlers
Gufuskalar (Gufuskálar) Irish Settlers
Driving by Gufuskalar at the tip of Snaefellsnes it’s hard to miss the 412m high antenna, built in 1963 for the Loran navigation system. It is now used as an aerial mast for longwave broadcasting for the state radio.
Close by, in the lava field, are over 150 ancient stone structures, cleverly built in a circular formation with the walls merging into a rounded roof. Such structures are well-known in Ireland, but rare in Iceland. Around here you'll find several place names connected to Ireland such as Írski brunnur, or the Irish well, Irska byrgi and Irsku budir, referring to dwelling places of the Irish. It is said that Irish hermits lived on the island before the Viking settlers came. The most likely explanation of these structures is that they were for drying fish and are referred to as Fiskbyrgi (fish sheds) in Icelandic.