Cromlechs

On a knoll on a W-facing slope (above the 500’ contour) in mixed rough pasture and exposed limestone pavement. Indicated and labelled ‘Cromlechs’ on both the first (1842) and Cassini (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 55-56) as a damaged wedge tomb (int. dims. L 2m; Wth 1.3m at SW, narrowing to 0.85m at NE; min. H 1.1m at SW, 0.65m at NE), orientated NE-SW and embedded in a subcircular mound (L 10m; Wth 8m; H c. 1m) which appeared to be composed of  small overlapping slabs. A later stone wall crossed the cairn, incorporating the NE end of the tomb chamber (ibid.). The chamber remains included both sidestones, the backstone, a blocking stone and a broken and displaced capstone. The SE sidestone’s (L 2.9m; T 0.12m) upper portion was broken off except at the E (H 0.85m), where the top edge was dressed on both sides (ibid.). Westropp (1905, 216; 1906-1907, 464) may have observed a hole in the W end of this sidestone. The NW sidestone (L 2.5m; max. H 0.9m; T 0.12m) was also broken at the W (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1961, 55-56). Both sidestones sloped to the NE. Outside the SW end of the NW sidestone was a small earthfast pillar-like stone (L 0.3m; Wth 0.2m; H 0.35m). The backstone (L 1.4m; H 0.65m; T 0.1-0.15m) had a gap (Wth 0.35m; H 0.25m) in its top NE corner. This gap was dressed, as was the top edge of the slab. However, the relative positions of the SE sidestone and the backstone were such that this gap was outside the chamber and could not provide access to it (ibid.). The blocking stone (L 1.05m; H 1.1m; T 0.12m) at the SW end of the chamber was dressed on its NW edge and along part of the top edge. It fit closely against the NW sidestone but was 0.35m from the SE sidestone (ibid.). One large piece (L 1.2m; Wth 1.4m; T 0.1-0.15m) of the broken and displaced capstone leaned against the unbroken top edge of the NW sidestone, and was partly buried in the small stones within the chamber. Another probably displaced slab (L 1.5m; H 0.7m; T 0.12m) stood almost upright in the SW end of the chamber. De Valera and Ó Nualláin (ibid., 56) suggested that there may have been remains of kerbing around the tomb: about 2m to the SE of the chamber side three slabs (L 0.55-1.45m; H 0.1-0.35m; T 0.05-0.1m) protruded from the mound, leaning to the N and co-aligned with the chamber (orientated NE-SW), while another slab (L 1.1m; H 0.45m; T 0.1m) was set c. 2m to the SW of the tomb, orientated NW-SE. An inspection of the tomb in 1998 found it unaltered in the interim. A megalithic structure (CL017-015001-) lies c. 78m to the ESE. There is a cairn (CL017-015003-) c. 79m to the SE, another wedge tomb (CL017-015005-) c. 85m to the ENE, another (CL017-015006-) c. 88m to the NW, and yet another (CL010-092----) c. 130m to the NE.    Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott   Date of upload: 23-10-2025

A Neolithic portal dolmen; significant for its early cartographic recording and preservation on limestone terrain.