Dermot and Granias Bed (1904–5) — Málainn Mhóir

This monument (National Monument no. 139 (4) in state care) is one of the three portal tombs on the N side of the valley opening onto the N end of Malin Bay. It is lkm ESE of the westernmost of the three (Dg. 90), just 100m NW of the other (Dg. 94) and close to a dwelling-house in pasture broken by rock outcrops. It marks the junction of three field walls that run to the E, S and W from it. The monument is greatly ruined, and only one orthostat, a portal-stone, remains in situ. This now leans slightly to the E. It is more or less rectangular in plan at the base and for around two-thirds of its height, and above that it narrows to a point. It would stand at least 2.5m high if upright. A displaced roofstone leans against the W end of this. This large slab measures 4.2m by 2.7m and is up to 0.7m thick. It overlies three displaced stones: one protrudes from beneath its eastern edge; the second protrudes from beneath its western edge; and the third, completely overlain, lies between the other two. These stones are further obscured by loose stones heaped beneath the roofstone. The easternmost of the three leans against the S face of the portal-stone. It measures 1.4m by at least 1.5m and is 0.4m thick. It would stand c. 1.5m high if upright. Its role is now unclear, but it may have served as a doorstone to the chamber. The prostrate stone protruding from beneath the western edge of the roofstone may have fallen westward. It is gabled in outline and may be the backstone of the chamber. It measures 2.3m N-S, is c. 0.3m thick and would have stood at least 1.3m high. The third stone here, which is completely overlain by the roofstone, is difficult to examine. It measures at least 1m in maximum dimension and seems to be c. 0.4m thick. The indications are that the extant portal-stone stood at the N side of the entrance to an ESE-facing chamber. If this was the case, the top of this stone sloped down toward the backstone. Thomas Fagan (1845-8) visited this monument in 1847. It appears from his account that it was then in its present state. He reported that a short time before his visit some large stones had been broken and dislodged, among them a 'pillar' 9 feet (c. 2.75m) high that had stood close to the surviving portal-stone. A 'few yards' to the SE of the tomb there were, according to Fagan, the ruins of an enclosure measuring 15 yards (c. 13.7m) by 13 yards (c. 11.9m), bounded by a thick stone wall, the base of which survived. This feature, which he considered might also be a 'place of sepulture', cannot be identified today. Norman Moore (1872) claimed that there was another 'cromlech' of equal dimensions 10 yards (c. 9.15m) from the tomb described here, that a little to the S there were several stones on the ground, and that 40 yards (c. 36.5m) to the W there was a small 'chamber cromlech' and near it many mounds with stones projecting, possibly artificial. None of these additional features noted by Moore is apparent at the positions indicated, although the small 'chamber cromlech' may be the court tomb (Dg. 92) that stands 80m W of the tomb described here. Fagan 1845-8, book 20, 9-10; N. Moore 1872, 524 ('200 yards west in a straight line is a huge cromlech'); Borlase 1897, 249, under Banagh nos. 9-20; Killanin and Duignan 1967, 292; Ó Nualláin 1983a, 35, no. 67; Ó Nualláin 1983b, 95, Donegal no. 21; SMR 1987, 89:5; Ó Nualláin 1989, 124; Herity 1990, 49, no. 38; RMP 1995, 89:5. 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) Excavation licence number 04E1109 The site for a house and associated works at Malin More, Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, was tested on 8 September 2004. The site is on the north slopes of Glen Malin. Some 45m to the north-north-west of the extremity of the development is SMR 89:6, Cloghacorra standing stone and a portal tomb. A further 50m away is SMR 89:5, a portal tomb. Inspection of the Cloghacorra standing stone and portal tomb recognised a stone-edged platform. Beside the standing stone on this platform is a small rectangular cairn, perhaps land clearance on a megalithic chamber. To the south there are indications of a much-reduced earthen field bank. The south (front) side of the site is covered in bog, the rear with a thin layer of soil derived from glacial deposits, which overlie the more stony glacial deposits on the metamorphic bedrock of this part of Donegal. The applicant had dug a percolation test-hole which proved there to be at least 3m of bog there. Two 4m-wide trenches, totalling 124.5m, were opened with a four-foot toothless bucket. Nothing of an archaeological nature, by way of find or feature, was found. (Excavations Bulletin 2004) Martin A. Timoney, B—thar an Chorainn, Keash, Co. Sligo.