Megalithic structure in Frenchfort

On open level rough grazing land, part of the Defence Forces' property at the Oranmore Firing Range. Cultivation ridges are visible in the surrounding fields. A ringbarrow (GA083-077----) lies 630m to the NW.A large roughly rectangular earthfast limestone orthostat (L 1.95m N-S; Wth 0.5m; H 1.3m), with a slightly rounded upper surface, is flanked immediately to the E and W by two displaced and now recumbent trapezoidal limestone slabs. The E slab measures 1.85m in length along its W side and has a maximum length of 1.2m along its S side and is 0.55m in thickness. Its S edge is very smooth, as if it once might have stood erect with its current S edge as the base. The W slab measures 1.8m along its N side and 1.06m along the E side and is 0.6m in thickness. Some small stones, cleared from the surrounding field, have been piled around the slabs. At first sight it appears that a single boulder was split, leaving a central orthostat with a displaced slab on either side, however, the faces of the two recumbent slabs don't match the faces of the orthostat, which has a pronounced offset of c. 0.15cms near the base on its W face (visible in profile in photo GA083-078----_02.jpg). Possibly a megalithic structure. The following images have been uploaded: GA083-078----_02.jpg View from S GA083-078----_03.jpg View from W GA083-078----_04.jpg View from N GA083-078----_05.jpg View from E Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 July 2023