Gortyarrigan Megalithic Tomb

This monument is on a gentle slope overlooking Lough Swilly almost 2km from its eastern shoreline. The land in the vicinity provides fair pasture. This very ruined monument consists of two orthostats (hatched on plan) and several displaced large stones. A stone field wall runs along the NW edge of the ruined structure, and there is a field drain alongside it at the SE. The larger orthostat, which appears to be a sidestone, stands at the NW face of the field wall. It is 0.8m high at the NE and declines to around half that at the SW end. The second orthostat, possibly a jamb, stands at right angles to the SW end of the first and is incorporated in the field wall. It is lm high. Just NE of the larger orthostat and on the same side of the fence there is an upright stone 1.3m long, 0.45m thick and 0.8m high. This does not appear to be firmly set and may not be in situ. Immediately SE of the two orthostats is a large stone, and just beyond this another. Both lie as if they toppled south-eastward from an upright position. The displaced stone nearer the orthostats rests on the other displaced stone. The northern end of each is obscured by the field fence. The stone nearer the orthostats is a pillar-like stone. It measures 0.8m by 0.6m and if upright would stand at least 1.7m high. The other measures 1.75m by 0.3m and if upright would be at least 1.4m high. To the SW and partly overlying this is a large displaced slab, 2.4m by 1.5m by 0.4m thick, and beside this, at the SW, is a prostrate pillar-like stone, 3.5m by 1.15m by 0.5m thick. The remains appear to be those of a megalithic tomb but are not sufficient to permit classification. SMR 1987, 19:19; Ó Nualláin 1989, 142; Colhoun 1995, 59; RMP 1995, 19:19. 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 See linked document with details from Eamon Cody, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI. County Donegal. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002)