Wedge tomb in Ballyganner North

On a slight rise on a S-facing slope overlooking an E-W valley, in rough pasture within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-059001-). Situated at the NW edge and highest point of a cashel interior (CL009-059076-). Indicated and named ‘Cromlech’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 32; attached) as a large wedge tomb chamber (L c. 4.25m; Wth at W 2m, narrowing to 1.45m at E centre; min. H at W c. 1.5m, dropping to c. 1.15m at E), its W end covered by spill from the cashel wall. There were some traces of a mound surrounding the chamber, which was oriented E-W and comprised a single large sidestone at S, two overlapping sidestones at N, and a broken capstone which had collapsed into the chamber. The S sidestone (L 4.3m; H 1.65m at W, 1m at E; T 0.2-0.3m) had a straight and roughly dressed top edge, sloping W-E. The vertical W edge was also worked. Of the two N sidestones, that at W (L 3m; H 1.35m at W, 1.15m at E; T 0.2m) had a dressed top edge and its E end was broken. The E slab at N (L 1.9m; max. H 1.35m; est. T c. 0.15m) overlapped (L 0.25m) the N side of the W slab. Most of its top edge (L 1m) was dressed. The vertical W end was also worked, and the E end bore chipping marks. Because this slab was oriented more WNW-ESE, de Valera and Ó Nualláin (ibid.) thought it may have been a later addition. The capstone had split roughly down the middle, and was in five pieces (L 1.2-3m; T 0.15-0.2m) within the chamber: two leaning against the N sidestones, and three against the S. De Valera and Ó Nualláin (ibid.) followed Westropp (1901, 290) in describing a low souterrain which extended W from the W end of the chamber into the cashel wall however, an inspection of the tomb in 1997 found no evidence for a souterrain. This is an example of a cashel being built adjacent to or over an Early Bronze Age ritual structure. Other examples are known in the Burren including Creevagh (CL010-095002-) (Comber 2008, 106-8) and Caherconnell (CL009-030011-) (Hull and Comber 2008, 123-30), as well as two in Lissylisheen (CL009-001026- and CL009-001013-). The following item has been uploaded: CL009-059077-_01.pdf Details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961) Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 5 April 2022