Wedge tomb in Caherminnaun West

On undulating ground in pasture, within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-059001-). Labelled as ‘Cromlech’ on the 1897 OS 25-inch plan and 1920 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 41) as a rubble-filled wedge tomb (L c. 3m; Wth at W 2-2.5m, narrowing to 1.7m at E; max. H at W 1.3m, sloping to min. 0.65m at E) embedded in a mound, of which only vestiges (c. 4m N-S; c. 1.25m E-W) survived at the E. The tomb was orientated E-W. Each of its sides consisted of a single limestone slab set on its long edge. The S sidestone (L 4.05m; H at W 1.25m, sloping to 0.85m at E; T 0.25m) leaned heavily to the S. Its top edge (L 3m) sloped evenly from W to E, with traces of dressing. The N sidestone (L 3.8m; H at W 1.3m, sloping to 0.65m at E; T 0.25-0.3m) also sloped from W to E, although the E part of its top edge was broken. The E endstone/backstone (L 1.6m; H 0.7m; T 0.15m) had a straight dressed top edge. De Valera and Ó Nualláin interpreted a flat-lying slab (L 1.4m; Wth 1.15m; T 0.2-0.25m) immediately to the W of the tomb as a fallen endstone, which would have partly closed the tomb entrance with a gap (c. 0.7m) between it and the N sidestone. An inspection of the tomb in 1997 found it unaltered in the interim. There is a cashel (CL009-059003-) c. 90m to the SSW. The following items have been uploaded: CL009-098----_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) CL009-098----_01.jpg View of tomb from ENE Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 20 June 2022