Reported Lost Megalithic Tomb — Tory Island

Getty (1853) noted some 'very large stones, like the remains of a cromleac' on high ground behind (i.e. to the N of) West Town on Tory Island. T.H. Mason (1936) claimed that a 'dolmen' on the island was marked on a map in his possession. However, he failed to find the monument and was informed locally that it had been broken up by a contractor employed to build a wall at the lighthouse, which is at the NW extremity of the island. According to Hunter (1972), a megalithic tomb was shown on the 1910 edition of the OS 6-inch map. This is not so, as no feature there bears any of the names usually assigned to such monuments on OS 6-inch maps. He may have had in mind one of a number of sites on the map named 'Carn' or 'Grave(s)'. There is no trace of a megalithic tomb at any of these sites. More convincing evidence would be required to establish that there was a megalithic tomb on the island. It may be noted that the name 'Leaba Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne' or a version of it has been applied by islanders to what are apparently natural features at the E end of the island (OS Letters, 1835; Doherty 1891; Ó Colm 1971). OS Letters (1835), 89; Getty 1853, 114; Doherty 1891, 187; T.H. Mason 1936, 18; Ó Colm 1971, 49; Hunter 1972, 160; Crumlish 1993, 22. The above description was published in the 'Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI, County Donegal.' Compiled by: Eamon Cody (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). Date of upload: 22 September 2008