Wedge tomb in Meencargagh (dooish Ed)

This monument, not shown on any edition of the OS 6-inch map, came to notice in 1989. It is in a large, mature, coniferous forest, planted 30 or more years ago on a rock-strewn, boggy, S-facing hillside c. 6km SW of Ballybofey. Though evidently damaged during the planting process, the main features of the tomb are still apparent. Since its recognition the immediately surrounding trees have been felled, and it now stands in a small clearing. The monument consists of the remains of a gallery orientated almost W-E that seems to have been at least 3.5m long and is divided by a septal-stone into a portico and main chamber. Two outer-wall stones are visible at the N, and there is a single facade-stone at the SW. Further structure may remain buried toward the E. A hole dug in the western half of the gallery opens into a drain running to the SW from the front of the monument. This disturbed area is indicated by a dotted line on the plan. Just E of the septal-stone is a tree stump (not on plan), and immediately beyond this a large displaced slab lies across the gallery. This measures 1.3m by 1m by 0.15m thick. A smaller displaced stone, 0.7m by 0.35m and at least 0.15m thick, protrudes from under the E edge of this. The relative positions of the facade-stone and the septal-stone indicate that the portico was c. 1m long. The westernmost of the four sidestones representing the S side of the gallery is set outside the septal-stone and forms part of the portico side. The rest of the portico sidestones are missing or displaced. Two displaced slabs rest one above the other in the portico area. The lower one measures at least 1.6m in maximum dimension and may have been a roofstone. The upper one measures over 1m by 0.6m and 0.25m thick and may have been a sidestone. The lone facade-stone leans toward the gallery. It would stand 1m high if upright. The septal-stone is exposed to a depth of 0.7m at its southern end. The top surface of this stone dips 0.25m over its length from S to N. The entire N side of the main chamber is missing or possibly concealed. On the S side the sidestone flanking the septal-stone leans outward slightly. It is 0.5m in exposed height. The heights of the next three sidestones from W to E are 0.4m, 0.1m and 0.08m. The flat top of another stone, 0.25m across, is visible at ground level between the last two, but its status is uncertain. It is shown in pecked outline on the plan. The western of the two outer-wall stones at the N stands outside the portico area. It leans markedly inward and would stand 0.65m high if upright. The other outer-wall stone here is c. 1m to the E and is 0.3m high. In 1846 Thomas Fagan (1845-8) visited a 'pagan sepulture' known as 'Labbagrania' in this townland, but it is not clear whether it and the monument described here are one and the same (see Appendix 1, no. 84). Verling 1990, 126; RMP 1995, 77:24. 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)