Giants Grave

On the S-facing shoulder of a NE-SW ridge in pasture, commanding wide views out E-S-W. Marked as a rectangular feature named ‘Giant’s Grave’ on both the first (1842) and later, Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. The intervening OS 25-inch plan (1897) depicts a trapezoidal-shaped feature, orientated NNE-SSW (est. L c. 11m; est. Wth at narrower NNE end c. 3m; est. Wth at wider SSW end c. 5m) and labels it ‘Giant’s Grave’. The feature was described as a cist by Borlase (1897, 73). It was recorded by Westropp (1905, 219) as ‘a long, low, pear-shaped earthwork, full of blocks of stone, and measuring 33 feet [c. 10m] east and west, and 14 feet [c. 4.25m] north and south, near the west end; it tapers to a point at the east end. A slab set north and south appears near the west side; but if this be the remains of a cist, there is no other trace of one.’ De Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 94) concluded that these remains did not ‘justify its acceptance as a megalithic tomb.’ During an inspection in 1999 a local person stated that the field had been reclaimed about nine years previously. No visible surface traces survive. There is a hut site (CL010-070002-) c. 40m to the NE. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 12 May 2023