Dermot and Granias Bed — Meenformal

This monument is c. 2km E of Glen Lough on an elevated boggy plateau in rough pasture. There is a distant outlook westward from the site, but that to the E is limited by the rising ground extending north-eastward from Loughsalt Mountain. The tomb is enveloped in the bog, and some structure may still remain concealed. It consists of a wedge-shaped gallery, orientated SW-NE, linked by a single facade-stone at the N to the remains of outer-walling standing not more than 0.5m beyond both sides of the gallery. A jamb-like stone one-third of the way along the gallery may indicate a division into a portico, c. 1.5m long, and main chamber. The greater part of the S side of the gallery is concealed by a field wall that also crosses the SW end of the structure. Five roofstones, some partly dislodged, lie along the gallery. An oval mound, now bog grown, measuring 9.5m NE-SW by 6.5m NW-SE and 0.5m high, surrounds the structure. The gallery, measured from a point in line with the facade-stone to the orthostat closing its E end, is 4.4m long. It is 1.6m wide at the W and narrows to c. 1m at the lower, eastern end. A partly concealed sidestone is visible at either end of the S side of the gallery. That to the W is 0.5m high, and that to the E, which flanks the gallery backstone, is 0.4m high. The N side of the gallery is represented by four orthostats, all somewhat concealed. These vary from 0.35m to 0.45m in exposed height. The jamb-like stone in the gallery, 0.4m high, extends inward from the W end of the second sidestone at the N. It is partly concealed by the roofstone above it, and hence difficult to examine, but appears to be a structural stone. The stone closing the E end of the gallery is set between the ends of the gallery sides. It is 0.4m high. The role of a stone at right angles to the southern end of the last is unclear. It may indicate a continuation of the gallery to the E or may serve as a buttress. This stone is 0.2m high. The roofstones lie with their longer axes across the gallery and appear to have rested directly on the gallery sides. The N end of the western roofstone has fallen onto the floor of the gallery. That next to it is also somewhat displaced, and both are partly concealed by the field wall. The other three seem to be more or less in place but are partly hidden by grass-grown peat. It is clear that the third roofstone overlies the western edge of the fourth. It is not possible to ascertain the precise dimensions of these stones, but they average 1.5m long (N-S) by c. 0.5-0.8m wide and are all at least 0.15m thick. The facade-stone at the NW corner of the monument is 0.9m high. Just 0.15m from the back of this and roughly parallel to it is a second stone, apparently effecting a doubling of the facade. This is 0.45m lower than the first. Two outer-wall stones stand at right angles to the outer end of the facade-stone. The western one is 0.35m lower than the facade-stone. The eastern one is 0.45m high. Four outer-wall stones are exposed beyond the S side of the gallery, one to the E and the three others together midway along the monument. These four stones vary from 0.4m to 0.6m long and are up to 0.3m thick. The second and third of these lean outward. When all were upright their heights from W to E would have been 0.7m, 0.7m, 0.45m and 0.1m. A prostrate slab lies 0.7m S of the western end of the gallery. This may be a displaced outer-wall stone. It measures 0.5m by at least 0.7m and is 0.3m thick. In line with the S side of the gallery and 0.8m in front of it is a small set stone, 0.3m long and at least 0.1m thick, that rises no more than 0.05m above ground level. Its status is uncertain. A prostrate slab, 1.3m in maximum dimension and 0.2m thick, lies at the western end of the mound. OS Revision Name Book, sheet 27 (1848-9), 30; L.W. Lucas 1962, 13; Ó Nualláin 1983a, 43, no. 112; SMR 1987, 27:28; Ó Nualláin 1989, 136; RMP 1995, 27:28. 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). See linked document with details from Eamon Cody, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI. County Donegal. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002) Date of upload: 22 September 2008