What is recorded here

Giants Grave is a ruined megalithic tomb on low bogland between Ballynakill and Garraunbaun Loughs in County Galway. North-south stones and a gable-shaped backstone still mark the chamber, while displaced rocks suggest the gallery has largely collapsed. The name may be local legend rather than fact, yet the shape and setting make the grave sound larger and older than the stones alone admit.

On low flat bogland between Ballynakill and Garraunbaun Loughs. The monument is very ruined and appears to be the last vestiges of a megalithic tomb. Several orthostats and a number of displaced stones appear to be the remains of a gallery, aligned N-S. The more southerly of the erect stones is a fine gable-shaped stone which may well be a backstone. (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 8-9) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 05 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; likely Neolithic in date. Its remains indicate a once-significant megalithic funerary structure, typical of early ceremonial and burial practices in the region.

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