Mound in Grenan

The first edition of the Shell Guide to Ireland, under Ballyragget, records that ‘2 m. N., at Barnderry in Grenan townland, are the Giants Graves, 2 large, sub-rectangular mounds and 1 small circular mound’ (Killanin and Duignan 1962, 93). This reference, undoubtedly, was derived from Carrigan who noted that in Barnderry (the northern sub-division of Grenan townland), ‘on the slope of the hill, may be observed three mounds of earth; two of them are oblong and very large, the third is circular and small. All three are known as “the Giants’ Graves”.’ (1905, ii, 108-9). The townland of Grenan is in Co. Laois, some 6km N of the village of Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. This reference was not included in the revised edition of the Shell Guide published in 1967. These three mounds are clearly visible on Digital Globe orthoimagery taken between 2011-13. The mounds are visible standing on the N facing slope of rising ground in the N quadrant of the townland of Grenan in an area known locally as Barnderry. The earthworks visible on the orthophotos appear to be the same mounds described by Canon Carrigan and in the 1st. ed. Shell Guide to Ireland. These earthworks have been levelled and are not visible on Google Earth orthophotos dated 10/08/2022. See attached Google Earth orthoimage taken 10/08/2022 and Digital Globe orthophoto Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Paul Walsh Date of upload: 27 September 2022