An Chlochbhuaile Court Tomb

This monument, almost 5km NW of Ballyshannon, is 1.7km SW of the court tomb in Cool Beg (Dg. 37) and 150m from the coast. It stands on level poorish pasture and commands an extensive outlook N and W across Donegal Bay. The outlook to the S is restricted by a nearby ridge. The tomb consists of a gallery at least 7.5m long, with a lintelled entrance, preceded at the E by the remains of a court. The gallery is largely concealed by a wide drystone wall built along it. The overlying wall rises well above the orthostats and conceals all but their outer faces. It is clear that the gallery is widest at the entrance and narrows toward the W. Two courtstones, both incorporated in the field wall, survive to the N of the gallery entrance. The inner one leans outward and is 1.2m high. The outer one is 1m high. Immediately beyond this is a low set stone, 1m long and at least 0.1m thick. It would stand 0.5m high if upright and may be a courtstone. This cannot be confirmed, and so it is not hatched on the plan. Two well-matched, flat-topped and transversely set entrance jambs, 0.6m apart, stand at the entrance to the gallery and support a large lintel. Both jambs are 0.5m high. The lintel, a large rectangular block, is 2.2m long, 0.85m wide and 0.75m thick. A slab, 1.35m in maximum dimension, rests on the wall between the N end of the lintel and the inner courtstone. It may be a displaced corbel. Another displaced slab, c. 1m in maximum dimension, now built into the field wall lies 0.4m W of the last. Gallery sidestones are visible to the N and S c. 1.5m W of the entrance jambs. The outer faces of three are to be seen at the N, and five are visible at the S. The easternmost one at the N and that next to it are both 0.5m high. The third orthostat here is 0.8m high. It rises 0.4m above the top of the preceding stone. The heights of the five orthostats at the S side of the gallery from E to W are 0.15m, 0.7m, 0.35m, 0.7m and 0.7m. The last is set inside the line of the others. Allingham 1879, 108 ('About half-a-mile north of the O'Clery's Castle, is another giant's grave of colossal proportions'); Wakeman 1896, 297 (cromleac of enormous size); Ó Nualláin 1983a, 18, no. 14; SMR 1987, 103:44; Ó Nualláin 1989, 117; RMP 1995, 103:44. The above description was published in the 'Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI, County Donegal.' Compiled by: Eamon Cody (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). Date of upload: 22 September 2008 See linked document with details from Eamon Cody, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI. County Donegal. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002)

Neolithic court tomb, dating to approximately 3500–2500 BCE. Its coastal location and commanding view suggest it may have had ritual or ceremonial significance related to the surrounding landscape.