What is recorded here

Gallaun is a broken stone row on the north side of the Melagh valley, where three fragments still mark a line once touched by human hands. Local story claims the stones came from a lost tomb and that a disused burial place once lay nearby. The largest piece now lies flat in rough pasture, waiting to be remembered rather than measured.

On platform of rough pasture on N side of valley of Melagh river. Row of three stones, aligned NE-SW, and 2.6m in overall length, NE stone is 0.4m L, 0.35m T and 0.4m H; its top appears to be broken. Next stone, 1.3m to the SW, is 0.8m L, 0.25m T, and 1.5m H. SW stone lies prostrate 1m from last; it is 4.25m by 0.9m and at least 0.15m thick. (Ó Nualláin 1988, 235, no. 39; Roberts 1988, Ch. 5, no. 39). Myler (1998, 74) records that 'Local tradition suggests that this was formerly the site of a large megalithic tomb which was broken and pieces of it used in the construction of a house. There is a tradition of burial at this site and it is said that there was a Cilineach or Ceallurach, which is long since disused, in a round hollow north-west of the tomb'. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 29 January 2013

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