Man-made underground passage in Baltrasna (ratoath By.)

Located at the NE end of a slight NE-SW ridge in a gently undulating landscape. A Man-made underground passage came to light in the spring of 1986 as the result of ploughing, but it is now closed. It consists of a straight-sided and lintelled SE-NW passage (Wth 0.9m; L 2.3m) which is blocked at the SE end and widened (Wth 1.3m) towards the NW where there is a trapdoor (dims 1m x 1m) in the floor. This leads into a short SE-NW passage (Wth 1m; H 1m; L 2.3m) roofed with two large lintels which enters an oval or subtriangular beehive chamber (dims c. 2.5m N-S; c. 2.5m E-W; H 2.2m) that has a corbelled roof and a single large capstone. From this chamber a short passage (Wth 0.9-1.1m; H 1.1m; L 1.5m) extends SW and enters a circular beehive chamber (diam. 3.3m N-S; 3.3m E-W; H 2.3m). The capstone of this chamber is cracked and the entrance has a large lintel (Wth c. 1.2m; H c.0.4m) supported on jambs that have four stones each. See the attached drawing by Muiris de Buitlear The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 10 July 2007 Amended: 17 December 2021