Druids Altar

Situated at the W end of a low E-W rise, c. 200m N of what was the E end of Lower Lough Gara which is now reclaimed. Rectangular chamber (int. dims.2.2m NW-SE; 1.95m NE-SW) facing NE defined by two sidestones and a backstone with two portal stones (H 1.75m; 2.2m) and the septal stone (H 1.9m). The roofstone (dims. 4m NE-SW; 3m NW-SE; T c. 0.7m) is in situ, and a slight grass-covered cairn (dims. c. 7m NW-SE; c. 6m NE-SW) surrounds the stones. Standing stone (RO005-016----) is c. 100m to the S. (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 32,33) It has been known and described from the early 19th century (Weld 1832, 278; D'Alton 1845, 81-2; Borlase 1897, vol. 1, 195-7; Clarke 1899, Ó Nualláin 1983, 100) and was excavated and conserved in 1954 (Topp 1962) when cremated human remains, a polished stone axe, two Bann flakes and a chert core were recovered (Herity 1964, 130). See the attached view from the E Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010 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).

Portal dolmen; dates to the Neolithic period (c. 4000–2500 BCE). Its orientation and positioning suggest ritual or ceremonial significance, typical of megalithic tombs in the Boyne Valley region.