Ardara Dermot and Gráinne's Bed — Kilgole

This site, first shown on the 1847-50 edition of the OS 6-inch map, consists of a substantial rock outcrop, around the base of which are loose stones. Brief accounts of the site in an OS Revision Name Book (1847-50) and an OS 1:2,500 Name Book (1904) describe it as a natural feature and make no reference to any artificial structure here. This may be the site in Kilgole (this part of the townland of Ardara is known by that name), where, according to P.J. McGill (1970), a 'dolmen…was removed about fifty years ago in the course of land reclamation'. The nature of the supposed 'dolmen' is not known. OS Revision Name Book, sheet 73 (1847-50), 43; OS 1:2,500 Name Book, sheet 73 (1904), 63; OS Field Memorandums, sheet 73 (1951), A/19/6; L. McGill 1964, 63; P.J. McGill 1970, 7; Ó Nualláin 1983a, 46, no. 141; SMR 1987, 73:41; RMP 1995, 73:41. 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 02E0367 Pre-development testing took place for twenty houses and associated works near the site of a megalithic tomb. The development was the subject of a previous assessment, which had identified, via aerial photography, low-visibility rectilinear earthworks. Seven trenches were excavated by machine to the level of undisturbed natural. No archaeological remains, features or finds were uncovered. No visual evidence of the enclosure could be found on the ground. (Excavations Bulletin 2002) Christopher Read, North West Archaeological Services Ltd, Cloonfad Cottage, Cloonfad, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.