Giants Bed — Labbadish

This is a large earthen enclosure of uncertain origin and date. Thomas Fagan (1845-8) reported a claim that it was built as a military fortress during the Williamite wars of the late 17th century. Fagan 1845-8, book 8, 30; Kinahan 1885-6, 428; Killanin and Duignan 1967, 369; Ó Nualláin 1983a, 48, no. 169; SMR 1987, 62:4; RMP 1995, 62:4. 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 Excavation licence number 04E0529 Six test-trenches were opened on the site of a single-house development at Labbadish, Letterkenny. The site is close to a court tomb. Features were revealed in two trenches. In one opening, two linear features were found extending across its width; and in another trench, located downslope from the first, another linear feature was revealed. The linear feature common to both trenches had all the hallmarks of a drainage ditch, consisting of silty infill and stone. Its alignment followed the fall of the field and probably would have fed into a drain along the public road. The second linear feature had been recut and may well have a dual purpose. Originally this feature acted as a boundary ditch, although there was no evidence of an associated bank, which may have been totally removed by ploughing. Over time, the ditch became obsolete as it silted up. The bank was then ploughed out and the ditch recut to be employed as a field drain, with the base of the new cut lined with stone to facilitate better drainage. No activity pre-dating the post-medieval period was discovered on the site and nothing was found that could be associated with the nearby court tomb. (excavations Bulletin 2004) Mary Henry, Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.