Indicated — Fanygalvan

Near the W edge of a plateau, in rough pasture, overlooking hazel-covered craglands to the S and W; within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-084001-). Indicated on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map and named ‘Cromlechs’ on the latter ed. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 27-8 – see link below) as a large partly collapsed wedge tomb (L c. 4.75m; Wth at W 2.1m, narrowing to 0.8m at E; H at W 1.4m, dropping to 0.65m at E) divided into two chambers. The tomb is embedded in the E end of an irregular low elongated mound (c. 20.5m ENE-WSW; c. 4.8-8.5m NNW-SSE; H c. 0.5-0.8m). An unclassified megalithic tomb (CL009-084008-) and a possible cist (CL009-084009-), which appear to have been subsequently added, occupy its W end. The wedge tomb, trapezoidal in plan, is oriented WSW-ENE. A number of the edges and tops of its stones are dressed. The N and S sides of the larger W chamber (L 2.85m; Wth at W 2.1 narrowing to 1.65m at E; H at W 1.4m; 0.8m at E) consist of a single limestone slab. The N sidestone (L 3.25m; T 0.2-0.25m) had collapsed inward, if erect it would have stood 1.2m high at the W end and 0.9m at the E. The S sidestone (L 4.35m; H at W 1.4m; H at E 0.8m; T 0.2-0.25m) is massive and its E end forms part of the S wall of the S side of the smaller E chamber (L 1.9m; Wth at W 1.6, narrowing to 0.8m at E; H at W 0.8m; 0.65m at E). Another slab (L 1.3m; H 0.8m; T 0.15m) completes this side of the latter chamber. The N side is also constructed of two slabs (W slab L 0.8; H 0.85m; T 0.15-0.2m; E slab L 1.3m; H 0.7m; T 0.15m) that are not quite in line with the N side of the W chamber. The chambers are divided by a segmental slab (L 1.5m; H 1m). Part of the roofstone (L 3.15m; Wth at W 3m narrowing to 2.3m at E; T 0.15-0.25m) still caps the tomb. A broken fragment of it (L 1.35m; Wth 3.05m; T 0.15-0.25m) lies on the ground immediately to the W. The W chamber is partially closed by a slab (L 1.4m; H 1.05m; T 0.1m) set 0.4m inside it. Two other stones are lying on the ground to the W of its N sidestone. Traces of outer walling survive on both sides of the tomb. That on the S side (L c. 7.3m) consists of five in situ upright slabs, two recumbent slabs and a slab leaning against the most easterly upright slab. On the N side, only two slabs (L c. 3.8m) survive, 1.8m apart. To the N of the more easterly of these stones, two further parallel slabs suggest ‘some doubling of the outer walling’ (ibid., 28). The narrowing of the enclosing mound between this tomb and the unclassified megalithic tomb, c. 2.5m to the W, and the possible cist, a further 2.5m W, suggested to de Valera and Ó Nualláin (ibid.) that the original mound was subsequently enlarged. On inspection in October 1998 the monument was as described above. These tombs form part of a concentration of prehistoric monuments in the immediate vicinity, some of which were investigated by Grant (1995, 31-3). The closest of the monuments in this complex include: a stone row (CL009-084006-), which lies c. 20m to the NW and a standing stone (CL009-084032-), which lies c. 19m to the NNE. See linked document with 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: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 27 April 2022