Cairn — unclassified in Gortadirra

This flat-topped, approximately oval-shaped cairn is located on the rock strewn summit of Tomies mountain, which forms part of the E side of the Gap of Dunloe. This siting affords extensive views towards Castlemaine Harbour at NW and Lough Leane at SE, but views are restricted in other directions by mountainous terrain. Collapse from the cairn has spilled downslope on all sides except NW, where a circular shelter, 2.6m in diameter, is located. At NE an oval-shaped depression, 2m long and .6m deep, occurs on the surface of the cairn, which is elsewhere covered by a thin layer of peat. Remnants of crude stone facing survive at SW. The core of the cairn measures 12.2m NE-SW x 10.5m NW-SE and stands to a maximum height of 1.9m at SE. The spill of cairn material has an overall average diameter of 16m. This monument and the following site may perhaps be identified as the 'two sepulchral heaps of stone near each other on the summit of Tomies mountain' noted by Cusack (1871, 426). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 390. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013