Dolmen

In pasture, located at the break of slope on a N–facing slope, which falls to a flat expanse of lowlying wettish pasture. The views to SW, the direction in which the tomb faced, are not extensive, with ground rising to a low ridge in the middle distance. There is a rath (MA112-045----) 20m to SE in the same field, and cist (MA112-108----) is located 100m to SE. This wedge tomb, which is indicated on the 1929 OS 6-inch map as 'Dolmen', was destroyed in February 2019. There is now no visible trace at ground level. The tomb consisted of a gallery/burial chamber (L 9.5m; Wth 1.4m) defined by a double wall of upright slabs or orthostats, roofed by flat slabs. It was oriented NE–SW, with the entrance at SW, and was enclosed by remnants of a sod-covered cairn or mound (overall L c. 16m; Wth 7.5m at SW; c. 4.5m at NE) . The attached document includes a detailed description, plan and photograph of how the tomb looked when recorded by Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin in Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume II. County Mayo, Dublin: Stationery Office, 1964 (no. 93, p. 83-84). Date of revised upload: 4 March 2019

Portal dolmen; likely dates to the Early to Middle Bronze Age. Its orientation and location suggest ritual or ceremonial significance, typical of megalithic tombs in the Boyne Valley region.