What is recorded here

The court tomb in Mullacastle holds a chamber two and a half metres long, built from a tall jamb, adjoining sidestones and a backstone on a gentle Cavan slope. A displaced slab still leans against the jamb, while another stone marks a possible gallery continuing toward the NNW. The stones may have formed a long entry where people walked past dead ancestors before entering the small chamber, but time has broken that line and left only a chamber, a leaning slab and a suggestion of road.

Situated on a gentle slope in rolling country. The more easterly side of a chamber, 2.5m long, is represented by three orthostats, a tall jamb at the NNW and, 1m to the S, two adjoining sidestones which in turn articulate with a backstone at the SSE. A large displaced slab leans against the jamb. Another orthostat beside the jamb seems to continue the line of the gallery to the NNW. A set stone about 1m S of the backstone suggests a continuation of the gallery in the opposite direction. There is a displaced slab alongside this, (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 132-3, No. 34) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2008 See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume III. Counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1972).

Court tomb, dating to the Neolithic period (c. 4000–2500 BCE). This type of tomb is significant as an early communal burial monument, reflecting the ritual and social practices of prehistoric farming communities in Ireland.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.